Support for smoking ban rises

Three-quarters of regular pub-goers support the introduction of the smoking ban, according to the latest survey from the Department of Health (DoH).

Awareness of the 1 July smoking ban is at an all-time high of 83%, compared with awareness levels of just 55% in April, while 95% of people are aware of the new law, the research said.

With just 10 days to go until the ban is implemented, public health minister Caroline Flint said: "We have worked hard over the past seven months to ensure that everyone is aware of the new law, how it affects them and what they need to do."

Awareness levels have made significant progress since the DoH published its last smoking ban survey, marking 50 days until the ban. Then 45% of the population did not know when the ban was coming into force.

A high-profile and high-cost advertising campaign began on 14 May in a bid to raise awareness. The DoH said earlier this month that the total cost of advertising the ban was £8.7m.

Read more on the smoking ban here >>

Smoking ban the catalyst as pub market diversifies >>

Smoking ban already shaping pub market >>

By Christopher Walton

E-mail your comments to Christopher Walton here.