Smoke ban backlash
THE majority of Scots believe smoking should be reintroduced to pubs and clubs – a decade after a ban made it illegal.
A new poll shows more than half of respondents thought venue owners should be allowed to offer a separate room for anyone who wants to light up on a night out.
Ahead of this week’s tenth anniversary of the ban – which outlawed smoking in enclosed public places – pro-smoking group Forest commissioned a public opinion survey.
Research consultancy Populus quizzed more than 1,000 Scottish adults – and 54 per cent thought pubs and private members’ clubs should be allowed to provide well-ventilated smoking rooms. Perhaps surprisingly, almost half – 49 per cent – of non-smokers said there should be an option for such designated indoor smoking spaces.
The findings are in contrast to Scottish Government assurances that most people are in favour of the legislation that came into force on March 26, 2006. Forest director Simon Clark said: ‘Politicians like to claim the smoking ban has been a huge popular success. This poll suggests they are out of touch with many ordinary people. While most people understandably prefer to work and socialise in a smoke-free environment, a majority of the public seem willing to compromise, unlike our elected representatives. Designated smoking rooms offer a third way.’
Mr Clark said he would not expect pubs or clubs to be forced to provide a smoking room, but to have the option.
He added: ‘The fact so many people support designated smoking rooms, ten years after the smoking ban was introduced, shows this issue will not go away.’
Paul Waterson, chief executive of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, said: ‘Pubs have never fully recovered. We’ve lost about three pubs a week since the ban but because of the Scottish Government’s reduction of the drink-driving limit, last year we saw about seven closing a week. We could never go back to the way it was before, we’re not suggesting that, but ventilation systems were very good then and they’re even better now. Perhaps there is some room for relaxation.’
Action on Smoking and Health Scotland chief executive Sheila Duffy said annual surveys ‘consistently show’ smokers and non-smokers support the current set-up.
Public health minister Maureen Watt said the Scottish Government was ‘firmly committed’ to creating a tobacco-free generation by 2034 and that there were no plans to review the current legislation.
She added: ‘Since the smoking ban was introduced almost ten years ago, evidence shows it has contributed to a 39 per cent reduction in second-hand smoke exposure in adults, a 17 per cent reduction in hospital admissions for acute coronary syndrome and improvements in the respiratory health of bar workers.’