04 March,2009 08:46 AM IST | | Namita Gupta
Ananth Narayan, owner of nightclubs Nyx and Fusion Lounge, says, "We have created a smoking zone on the open-air terrace of Nyx. The laws are not very clear as to what kind of smoking zone should be made. So, we have created one according to international regulations. We used to serve hookahs earlier, but we have stopped it now. At Fusion Lounge, we have now made a small balcony just outside the pub, as a smoking zone as we used to have people asking to go down two floors earlier for a smoke and used to vanish from there, without paying the bills. Hence, we have now made a smoking zone on the same floor. In fact, most of the pubs have faced similar situations of people going out for a smoke in between their meals and drinks and leaving from there without paying bills."
Vijay Abhimanyu, managing director, Billion Smiles Hospitality, says, "There is a small effect on restaurants. However this effect is greater on lounges, clubs and coffee shops. Fine dining restaurants are not as affected. Since it is a government enforced rule, customers seem to understand. Because we do not have a designated area for smokers, customers who smoke tend to spend more time at the table as they keep taking short breaks during their meal."
Harinder Singh, general manager, Lalit Ashok Hotel, says, "At our restaurantsu00a0 the smoking zones have not been designated, but at Sutra pub there is an open-air area, where you can smoke. But still, business has been affected due to the smoking ban as smokers tend to stay away."
