Public backs a smoking ban in restaurants but is divided over pubs

A new survey suggests that most people back a smoking ban in restaurants, but are more divided when it comes to pubs.

A poll of 1,000 people by the Daily Mirror found that 58% favoured restrictions on smoking in enclosed public spaces, while 36% was against such a move.

Non-smokers made up 73% of the sample while smokers accounted for 26% of responses.

Asked if smoking should be outlawed in all restaurants, 77% supported and 20% opposed the idea. Nearly 60% of smokers and 83% of non-smokers backed this proposal.

But support for banning smoking in pubs was more muted, with 49% for and 44% against. Unsurprisingly, only 19% of smokers were happy with this measure compared with 60% of non-smokers.

The good news for the trade is that only 11% of respondents said they would spend less time in pubs and restaurants if a ban was imposed, while 24% would spend more time there and 64% said a ban would make no difference.

by Angela Frewin

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