Latest news

Widespread support for smoking ban

Most people continue to support the UK-wide smoking ban, reveals a report published today by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Eighty per cent of respondents taking part in the 2007 Omnibus Survey said they agreed with the legislation banning smoking in enclosed public places. Sixty one per cent strongly agreed and 19 per cent agreed. A further 14 per cent disagreed with 6 per cent disagreeing strongly.

Almost three quarters of people tend to visit the pub as often as they did before the smoking ban (73 per cent) with 16 per cent reporting that they now go more often. The remaining 11 per cent said they went less often than before the smoking ban. Those in employment were also less likely to experience smoking in the workplace. Ninety-three per cent said that smoking was banned in the building where they worked. In particular 31 per cent reported that no smoking was allowed on the premises or the grounds where they worked.

There has also been a drop in the number of people allowing smoking in their home. Approximately two-thirds (67 per cent) said that smoking was not allowed at all in their home compared to 61 per cent in 2006. Awareness of the effects of second-hand smoking was widespread. Respondents thought that a child’s risk of getting chest infections (91 per cent) and asthma (85 per cent) were increased by living with a smoker. Seventy-nine per cent of smokers said they did not smoke at all when they were in a room with a child and 13 per cent said they would smoke fewer cigarettes in the presence of a child. Nearly all (94 per cent) of respondents agreed there should be smoking restrictions in place where there are, or are likely to be, children under the age of 16.

The awareness of the effect of second-hand smoke on adults increased in 2007 compared to previous years. More than 80 per cent thought that second-hand smoking would increase a non-smoking adult’s risk of lung cancer, bronchitis and asthma. Today's report presents the results of the 12th survey of smoking behaviour and attitudes, carried out by ONS for the NHS Information Centre for health and social care.

Source: Office for National Statistics News Release, 18th June 2008
Article link

> back to latest news index