With pubs and restaurants already frantically making preparations for the smoking ban, food experts are advising them to take yet another precaution.
Staff in the catering industry are being warned to be prepared for an expected boost in wine sales after the smoking ban takes effect on July 1st.
Bosses must train staff with regard to wine etiquette in order to cater for the anticipated surge of interest, industry experts advise.
Management consultancy company Aon's Vine to Wine report recently found that those establishments who invested in training staff to increase their knowledge of wine, as well as how to pour without spillage, have enjoyed reaping the profits of the sales boost.
Liam Dolan, principal consultant at Aon HR Solutions, said: "Countries such as Italy and Ireland have benefited by catering for the new audience of increasingly sophisticated wine drinkers."
It is expected that following the smoking ban, pubs and restaurants may attract more people from this sophisticated range of clientele who expect high standards from staff.
