Everything for People Concerned About
Smoking & Nonsmokers' Rights
on
the Internet for Smoking News and Documents
 |
Action on Smoking and Health
A National Legal-Action Antismoking Organization
Entirely Supported by Tax-Deductible Contributions
|
7 Out of 10 Britons Support National Smoking Ban [10/27-1]
Excerpts from: Britons want national smoking ban - poll
Reuters [10/26/04]
Nearly seven out of 10 Britons want to see smoking banned in restaurants, pubs
and offices, according to a poll published on Tuesday.
Sixty-six percent of respondents to the ICM poll, commissioned by the Guardian newspaper, said they would support a national ban on smoking in all enclosed public places.
The government is poised to introduce controls but has been keen to avoid being accused of engineering a "nanny state".
Yet 61 percent of those questioned said the government was justified in regulating "for the benefit of others" the country's drinking, smoking and gambling habits. Thirty-five percent said they opposed such government interference.
In March, Ireland became the first country to ban smoking in restaurants and pubs. Since then several countries, including Norway and Malta, have instituted similar bans.
The ICM poll also showed 57 percent of people support the government's plans to allow pubs and clubs more flexible closing times.
Ministers say relaxed drinking laws will reduce the amount of brawling and other anti-social behaviour by preventing nightspots from emptying at the same time.
ICM conducted a telephone poll of 1,001 adults across the country between October 22 and 24.
footer
Presented as a public service by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH),
2013 H Street, N.W., Wash., DC 20006, USA, (202) 659-4310.
ASH is a 36-year-old national legal-action antismoking and
nonsmokers' rights organization which is entirely supported by
tax-deductible contributions.
Please credit ASH, and include ASH's web address: http://ash.org