A lobby group for smokers who campaigned against the introduction of the smoking ban in Ireland has claimed that it has not been an irrefutable success story.
The group, Forest (Freedom Organisation for the Right to Enjoy Smoking Tobacco), expressed concerns about the impact of the ban on pubs and local communities.
Simon Clark, director of Forest, highlighted the significant number of pub closures following the ban and questioned the long-term effects on businesses and jobs.
Despite various statistics showing a decrease in smoking rates and imitation of the ban in other countries, Forest remains critical of the true impact of the smoking ban.
The debate around the success of the smoking ban continues to be a point of contention, with conflicting perspectives on its overall effectiveness.
