Support For New York-Style Smoking Ban
Two in five British people (40%) think smoking should not be allowed in any restaurants, and three-quarters (76%) agree that waiters and waitresses in cafes and restaurants should be able to work in a smoke-free work environment. This new research from MORI was conducted on behalf of SmokeFree London, an alliance of the capital's NHS health trusts.
It also shows a majority of people -- 61% -- believe bar staff in pubs should also be able to work in a smoke-free environment with a quarter (23%) disagreeing. More than half of British people (53%) say they would rather eat in a smoke-free restaurant, whilst one in 20 (four per cent) say they would rather eat in a restaurant with no smoking restrictions.
Technical details
1,972 adults aged 16+ were interviewed face-to-face, in-home between 20-24 March 2003. There were 193 sampling points throughout Great Britain. Data have been weighted to reflect the national profile. Base: all unless stated
Topline Results
Q1 Which of the following best applies to you?
| % | |
|---|---|
| I have never smoked | 42 |
| I used to smoke but I have given up now | 26 |
| I smoke but I don't smoke every day | 6 |
| I smoke every day | 24 |
| None/no answer | 1 |
| Don't know | * |
Q2 Using this card, please could you tell me approximately how often, if at all, you eat out at a restaurant?
| % | |
|---|---|
| Once a week or more | 16 |
| Once or twice a month | 28 |
| Every 1-2 months | 19 |
| Every 3-4 months | 13 |
| Every 5-6 months | 6 |
| Every 7-8 months | 1 |
| Every 9-12 months | 1 |
| About once a year | 5 |
| Less than once a year | 7 |
| Other | 1 |
| Don't know / Can't remember | 2 |
Q3 Which, if any, of the following best describes your opinion about smoking in restaurants?
| % | |
|---|---|
| Smoking should not be allowed anywhere | 40 |
| Smoking should only be allowed in smoking areas that are well separated from non-smoking areas | 39 |
| Smoking should be allowed at allocated tables | 15 |
| Smoking should be allowed anywhere | 4 |
| It depends | 2 |
| None of these | * |
| Don't know | * |
Q4a In which, if any, of following do you or would you prefer to eat?
| % | |
|---|---|
| In a smoke-free restaurant | 53 |
| In a restaurant that only allows smoking in certain areas of that restaurant | 34 |
| In a restaurant that allows smoking anywhere | 4 |
| I do not have a preference | 9 |
| Don't know | 1 |
Q4b Would that be in ...?
| % | |
|---|---|
| The smoking area? | 37 |
| the non-smoking area? | 50 |
| No preference | 11 |
| Don't know | 1 |
Q5 Please could you tell me how strongly you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?
| Strongly agree | Tend to agree | Neither agree nor disagree | Tend to disagree | Strongly disagree | No opinion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % | % | % | % | % | % | |
| I would dine out more frequently, if I knew restaurants would be smoke-free | 13 | 18 | 23 | 29 | 14 | 2 |
| All employees should be able to work in a smoke-free environment | 44 | 34 | 12 | 7 | 2 | 1 |
| Waiters and waitresses in cafes and restaurants should be able to work in a smoke-free work environment | 42 | 34 | 12 | 9 | 2 | 1 |
| Bar staff in pubs should be able to work in a smoke-free environment | 32 | 29 | 15 | 18 | 5 | 1 |
| I would dine out at any time in the future regardless of whether the cafй or restaurant was smokefree or not | 16 | 37 | 15 | 19 | 11 | 1 |
