The move was decided by the board of directors for the merged Berry and Bomaderry clubs, who met on Monday night.

It is a strategy to help the club cope with a 40 per cent downturn in profit since the introduction of a smoking ban, which the industry has blamed for a downturn in gaming revenue.

Bomaderry Bowling Club secretary manager Garry Wilbraham said the Bomaderry Bowling Club had not been spared losses in gaming revenue, posting a loss of about $80,000 per month on the previous year.

“Through this period the board decided to take a conservative line to ensure our future.

“We won’t close Berry, but we have to restrict trade so it covers costs.

“At both clubs jobs aren’t going but we are looking at rosters and hours,” he said.

Mr Wilbraham who has been with the club for 22 years says this is the tightest he has seen it.

“Random breath tests was the first, we all bought courtesy buses and changed the drinking culture which took about 12 months,” he said.

“It has been gradually declining throughout the year, our accountant attended our board meeting, he’s indicated to us it’s across the board.

“We’ve stopped donations to the community, we just haven’t got the money to give.

“Those ramifications flow on to other businesses, that money’s not going around.

“And we’re only one of 23 clubs in the vicinity.

“We’ve had feedback from Clubs NSW that the ramifications are State-wide,” Mr Wilbraham said.

The club currently has a development application lodged with council to build an outdoor gaming area.