Revenue loss after restaurant tobacco smoking ban imposed in South Korea

Six out of 10 restaurants in South Korea suffered revenue declines after the imposition of a tobacco smoking ban in July, according to a story in The Korea Herald quoting the results of a survey published yesterday.

Nearly 59.3 percent of restaurant owners who responded to the survey said their revenues had fallen as a result of the new smoking regulations.

The average reported fall in revenues was 17.6 percent.

The smoking ban that went into effect on July 1 affected only certain restaurants, based on size.

But all restaurants will be smoke-free by 2015, when stronger regulations are due to come into force.

The survey, which consulted 300 restaurant owners, was commissioned by the Korea Smokers’ Association.