A majority of voters supports the Government's proposal to ban smoking in pubs and restaurants, although younger people and the less well off actually oppose the move by small margins, writes Mark Brennock
Overall, 56 per cent support the ban, 40 per cent oppose it and 4 per cent have no opinion, according to the Irish Times/TNS mrbi opinion poll. This represents a slight narrowing of the margin in favour since last February's poll which showed 59 per cent in favour, 36 per cent against and 5 per cent with no opinion.
However, coming after a sustained campaign against the ban by publicans, the solid support shown by the poll will encourage the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, in his determination to go ahead with the ban.
There are some findings which will encourage opponents, however, such as the fact that those aged 18-34 and the less well off C2DE social group narrowly oppose the ban. In the 18-24 age group, 49 per cent are against, 47 in favour and 4 per cent have no opinion. In the 25-34 group, 51 per cent are against, 47 per cent in favour and 2 per cent have no opinion. In the C2DE social group, 50 per cent are against, 46 per cent in favour and 4 per cent have no opinion. This contrasts with strong support among farmers and the better off.
In the ABC1 group, 64 per cent favour the smoking ban, 33 per cent against with 3 per cent having no opinion, while among farmers 67 per cent are in favour, 24 per cent against and 9 per cent have no opinion.
There is also a predictable difference between smokers and non-smokers. Among smokers, 70 per cent oppose the ban, 29 per cent support it and 1 per cent have no opinion. The position is almost exactly reversed among non-smokers with 70 per cent in favour, 25 per cent against and 5 per cent with no opinion.