Almost two-thirds of all Irish employees would favour a total ban on smoking in their workplace to protect their health, a survey released today shows.
According to the results of the study of 1,500 adults, a tougher smoking policy would encourage a large number of smokers to cut down or quit the habit.
A third of all respondents said they would cut down, while one in seven said they would try to give up if smoking was banned at work.
Half of all smokers said they smoked less because of current restrictions in their workplace, and 20 per cent of smokers would favour a total ban.
Only 49 per cent of respondents said they were happy with their employer's smoking policy; a third said there was no policy at all. Eleven per cent were allowed smoke at certain times, 29 per cent had to go outside and 53 per cent had the facility of a designated smoking area.
The survey was conducted by NiQuitin CQ, a firm specialising in nicotine-replacement therapy.
Over 7,000 Irish people die each year from smoking-related illnesses.