22/08/2005

Survey reveals public support smoking ban

The majority of people in England and Wales would support a total ban on smoking in the workplace, a survey has claimed.

The poll of 1,000 people, conducted by BMRB on behalf of anti-smoking lobby ASH and Cancer Research UK, found that 73% of those polled supported banning smoking in all workplaces, including pubs and restaurants.

The government has proposed to introduce a smoking ban in England and Wales by 2008. However, the current proposals include exemptions for pubs that do not serve prepared food and private membership clubs.

However, the BMRB poll found that 85% of respondents said that they would visit bars and pubs as often – or more often – if they were smoke-free.

Commenting on the results, ASH Director Deborah Arnott, said: “This poll shows overwhelming public support for a comprehensive smoke-free law, following its clear success in Ireland, New York and elsewhere. The idea that the public will not back an end to smoking in pubs and bars – where employees and customers are at most risk from second-hand smoke – is simply not true. If anything, there is greater support for comprehensive legislation in this country now than there was before it was introduced in Ireland.”

Cancer Research UK’s Chief Executive, Professor Alex Markham, said: "This survey dispels a number of myths that the tobacco industry has perpetrated to confuse the debate on smoke-free workplaces. It shows that public support for making all workplaces smoke-free – including all pubs and restaurants – is very high.

It also gives reassurance to anyone worried about the impact of going smoke-free on the hospitality trade. The vast majority of people say they would still visit pubs if they were smoke-free.

"This is supported by the experiences of places such as Ireland and New York, where there is clear evidence that going smoke-free does not damage profits.”

(KMcA/SP)

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