DECADE OF SMOKING BAN

APOLL has revealed almost 60% of Welsh people want smoking rooms in pubs but nearly 50% want the habit banned on beaches. The poll was commissioned by protobacco group Forest to mark the 10th anniversary of the smoking ban on April 2.

The ban was controversial when it came into force on a sunny Monday in 2007 and still is. Even now, some want it overturned – but Forest insists it is not among them.

“The suggestion that the smoking ban is hugely popular has been exposed as a myth,” Forest director Simon Clark said.

“Compliance is very high because the penalties are so severe and people are scared to break the law.

“Give people a choice, however, and a clear majority would give pubs and clubs the option of a separate, wellventilated designated smoking room.”

The survey was carried out by Populus, who asked 1,000 adults in Wales about their views earlier this month.

“The smoking ban hit pubs and working men’s clubs really badly,” Mr Clarke said.

“Many closed and hundreds, if not thousands, of jobs have been lost.

“Ten years on, the Welsh Government should commission an independent re- view that takes into account the full impact of the ban, including the effect on public health, the hospitality industry and local communities.”

Mr Clarke insisted Forest was “not asking for the ban to be repealed”.

“In the light of this poll, however, which reflects public opinion throughout Wales, we believe the Welsh Government should consider an amendment to the ban that would give proprietors the option of providing a well-ventilated designated smoking room for the one in five adults who choose to smoke,” Mr Clarke said.

Deborah Arnott, chief executive of anti-smoking charity Ash, dismissed the poll.

“The benefits of smoke-free laws are not a matter of public opinion,” she said.

“The reason there is a complete ban on smoking in pubs, and smoking rooms in pubs are forbidden is that they do not protect the workers from the harmful effects of smoke.”

Smoke did not just stay inside smoking rooms but left a “miserable” smell outside, she said.

“And the carcinogens? You can’t smell them,” she said.

“You can have an opinion poll that says people on construction sites should not have to wear helmets. So what? They are there to protect workers.”

Compliance levels with the legislation from “day one” had been “well over 90%”, she said.

“In England the Department of Health commissioned a report on the impact of the ban on smoking in public places,” she added.

“It found bar workers’ health increased considerably after the laws came into force and their respiratory function improved.

“In the first year there were 1,200 fewer admissions for heart attacks, purely because of the legislation.”

The Welsh Government said the smoking ban “played an important part of our efforts to reduce smoking rates in Wales, with the percentage of adults smoking now at a record low”.

“Welsh Health Survey 2015 showed 19% of adults reported they currently smoke, down from 26% in 2003-04,” a spokesman said.

“This significant reduction means we have exceeded our aim of reducing smoking rates to 20% by 2016 and we remain focused on reducing levels to 16% by 2020.”