Strong backing for restaurant smoking ban, says Ash survey

Nearly four out of five people in the UK support a ban on smoking in restaurants and cafés, says a MORI poll commisioned by anti-smoking group Action on Smoking and Health (Ash).

The survey of more than 4,000 members of the public found 79% supporting a ban on smoking in restaurants and 78% backing a ban in cafés.

But just 49% supported ending smoking in pubs and bars, while 35% were against.

The level of support for smoke-free restaurants and cafés was in line with that for an overall ban on smoking in enclosed workplaces (80%).

Of those who supported legislation to make workplaces smoke-free, 64% wanted to see a national ban, while 21% prefered new powers for local councils.

Pro-smoking lobby group Forest said the poll should not be taken as a definite expression of public opinion and maintained that it contradicted other research that showed only a minority supporting a blanket ban in pubs, clubs and restaurants.

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