Polls shows more people want smoke-free bars and restaurants

5.00pm

Support for smokefree bars and restaurants is increasing among New Zealanders, according to opinion poll results released today.

The proportion backing a ban on smoking in restaurants had risen to 66 per cent, compared with 60 per cent a year ago, the UMR poll showed.

Those wanting no smoking in bars had jumped to 50 per cent from 38 per cent.

The poll, commissioned by the National Heart Foundation, questioned more than 750 people aged over 18.

Heart Foundation director Diana North said women were more likely to support smoking bans, with 52 per cent calling for completely smokefree bars and restaurants.

The male figure was 46 per cent.

Smokefree Coalition director Leigh Sturgiss said some people might initially have regarded proposed legislation banning smoking in bars and restaurants as anti-smoker.

But she said there was an increasing public awareness of the dangers of second-hand smoke.

She rejected fears that stopping smokers from lighting up in bars and restaurants would severely hurt the hospitality industry.

"There will be a small percentage of dissidents initially, but then people will just continue to go and spend their entertainment dollar," she said.

"Places will not suffer an economic downturn. They haven't in any other jurisdiction anywhere else in the world, when actual sales figures are looked at, not anecdotal evidence."

Legislation is going through Parliament that would outlaw smoking in all indoor workplaces, including bars, restaurants, lifts, toilets, ships, trains and taxis, when they are in use.

The Hospitality Association has expressed concern that the Smokefree Environments (Enhanced Protection) Amendment Bill would be hugely detrimental to the industry.

It has argued that revenue would be seriously reduced, leading to business failures and job losses.

- NZPA