Smoking ban fears 'were scaremongering'

Fears thousands of hospitality workers would lose their jobs in the wake of the smoking ban were unjustified, an anti-smoking group claimed today.

ASH Ireland said a new survey showed the public overwhelmingly accepted the ban and that pub and restaurant owners had used scaremongering tactics.

Dr Fenton Howell, spokesman for the lobby group, said creating a smoke free environment was a significant step that needed significant action.

“People fight through all of the scaremongering. It’s not about the economics and it’s not about the bar sales – it’s about health,” Dr Howell said.

“Despite all the rhetoric people believe that passive smoking is harmful, that’s why the ban is successful, people know it’s a positive step.”

A Government report showed 82% of people supported the ban and 95% said the new law was a positive health measure.

Senior figures in the hospitality trade had warned last year around 30,000 jobs could be lost if a blanket ban on smoking was brought in.

Health Minister Micheal Martin said the survey vindicated the decision to introduce the law.

“Despite well-publicised stories on some venues and individuals failing to comply with the measure, the figures confirm the continued strong public support for working and socialising in smoke-free environments,” Mr Martin said.

“There are still those who are trying to discredit what is commonly known as the smoking ban, but this negative approach has not affected the positive views of most people on this important public health issue.”

The survey by Lansdowne Market Research also showed the law had improved 70% of people’s experience in pubs.

The Office of Tobacco Control (OTC) said the report showed the ban was a positive step and highlighted the threat of second hand smoke.

A report from the OTC in June showed 97% of the premises inspected under the smoking ban were compliant with the law.

A 16% drop in tobacco sales has also been recorded in the first half of the year.

But the Licensed Vintners Association has said pub trade was down as much as 15% since the ban was brought in on March 29 this year.

All workplaces are smoke free under the ban and health inspectors can issue fines of up to €3,000 to anyone caught smoking illegally.