A majority of people in Northern Ireland believe smoking should continue to be allowed in at least some indoor areas of pubs and clubs - according to a survey published by a pro-smoking lobby group today.
The survey, carried out for Forest, showed 53 per cent believed smoking should be allowed to continue at some level in public places, while 46 per cent believed it should be banned completely.
The survey is the first of its kind since the British government launched its public consultation on attitudes to the introduction of a smoking ban in public places.
It revealed what Forest called a "significant libertarian streak" in Northern Ireland attitudes to smoking in public places. The study conducted by Populus showed:
- 68 per cent believed there should be greater choice of smoking and non-smoking facilities, with everyone free to choose whichever suited their preferences
- 71 per cent said that smokers should have the right to smoke in some public places, provided they didn't inconvenience non-smokers
- 62 per cent believed the government should not use the law to dictate people's lives
- Only a third of people questioned had heard of the government's consultation exercise and only one-in-20 had had their views solicited as part of the exercise so far
- 60 per cent thought that, no matter what they said, their opinions would not be taken into account by the government when deciding future policy
- 80 per cent of smokers believed their opinions would be ignored
Simon Clark, director of Forest, said: "It is clear that smoking in public places is an issue that divides Northern Ireland down the middle.
"But what is also clear is that, even among non-smokers, there is strong support for self-regulation by the hospitality industry to ensure that both smoking and non-smoking facilities are available to the public as a whole."
Mr Clark said now was the time to adopt policies that could accommodate smokers in some public places without inconveniencing non-smokers.
"That means further restrictions and better ventilation but not a blanket ban," he said.
Populus interviewed a demographically representative sample of 1,004 adult men and women living in Northern Ireland from March 7th-9th. It said 20 per cent of the sample smokes every day, 5 per cent occasionally. 25 per cent were ex-smokers and 51 per cent had never smoked.
PA