Support for smoking ban 'no surprise' to publicans

Figures showing almost 60% of Irish people support a proposed ban on smoking in pubs and restaurants will come as no surprise to publicans, it was claimed today.

Tadg O’Sullivan, of the Vintners Federation of Ireland, said the results were in line with the views of the pub owners he represented.

He said the results were a step forward in the bid for cleaner air in pubs.

“Of course the majority of the public will support it as they see it as an opportunity of creating healthy air,” Mr O’Sullivan said.

The MRBI poll in today’s Irish Times found that just one third of respondents disagreed with the proposal, which the Minister for Health has said he will implement from next January.

“We didn’t need the minister for health to bring in this ban, creating a cleaner atmosphere in pubs is something we had been working on for a number of years before this.

“The poll is in line with our thinking and doesn’t throw up any surprises for us. We will plough on with our efforts to improve the air quality in pubs.”

He said protecting staff at the pubs he represented was a priority, since many were family-run establishments.

In the poll, smokers and non-smokers were strongly divided on the issue, with 73% of non-smokers agreeing with the ban, 21% disagreeing and 6% giving no opinion.

Among smokers, 28% said they supported the ban, 67% disagreed and 5% had no opinion.

Some 32% of respondents said they smoked, in line with official estimates.

Support for the ban was highest among older people, and slipped steadily among the younger age groups.

A total of 69% of those aged over 65 supported it, 23% opposed it and 8% gave no opinion.

The youngest 18-24 group was evenly divided, with 49% in favour, 49% against and 2% giving no opinion.

There is stronger support for a smoking ban among women than among men.

Some 62% of women showed their approval for the idea, 33% said they were opposed and 5% gave no opinion.

In contrast, 55% of men were in favour, 39% against and 6% had no opinion.

* The MRBI poll questioned 1,000 people at 100 points throughout the Ireland last Monday and Tuesday.