More than half of those questioned for a new survey on the proposal to introduce an outright ban on smoking in pubs, hotels and restaurants from January said they felt a total smoking ban would be excessive.
The study, conducted by Lansdowne Market Research for the Irish Cigarette Machine Operators Association (ICMOA), found that 54 per cent of a random sample of 1,200 people over the age of 18 felt the ban was excessive.
Some 67 per cent felt a fair compromise to a total smoking ban would be for all pubs and clubs to have highly effective ventilation systems as well as separate non-smoking and smoking areas.
The ICMOA claims 450 people in the cigarette vending-machine business will be put out of business if the ban goes ahead.
The association's spokesman, Mr Gerry Lawler, said that some in the business had used their homes as security when starting off. "If I go out of business I will lose my home," he said.
He added that while the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, had suggested peer pressure would result in people not smoking in pubs once the ban was introduced, the study had shown otherwise. It found 72 per cent of those questioned would not ask a stranger to stop smoking in a pub.
Furthermore, he said the ban was likely to lead to increased violence outside pubs. Those surveyed were told that if the ban on smoking was introduced some smokers might go outside on the street to smoke. They were asked how likely did they think this would lead to an increase in violence on the streets at night. Some 44 per cent felt it was either very or fairly likely and 57 per cent said they would be concerned for their personal safety at night if they had to stand outside a pub to smoke.
The survey also found 68 per cent of women and 53 per cent of men were concerned at the prospect of leaving a drink unattended while stepping outside to smoke. A total of 57 per cent of the sample said they felt hoteliers' and publicans' business would decrease if a total smoking ban was introduced.