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Smoking in Public Places
A Consultation on Reducing Exposure to Second Hand Smoke
Key Findings from Focus Group Research
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report contains findings from twelve focus groups conducted in different locations across Scotland with targeted sections of the population. This research is one strand within a larger public consultation on smoking in enclosed public places, consisting of a number of different forms of evidence gathering, conducted during the summer of 2004. The findings from this report have fed into the final evidence report on smoking in enclosed public places drawing together the findings from each of the strands of research and consultation.
The Scottish Executive is committed to improving smoke-free provision as a consequence of the increasing awareness of the health risks of passive smoking that has been demonstrated by scientific medical research. The main aim of the focus group research was to capture the views amongst members of the general public about whether further action should be considered and, if so what that action might be. The research aimed to identify any gaps in views points not captured by other elements of the consultation exercise and to explore views in more depth.
The focus groups explored a range of themes related to the issue, including:
Attitudes towards smoking and shifting levels of tolerance
How environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) concerns non-smokers and affects their behaviour
Awareness of the impact of passive smoking on health
Attitudes towards smoking policies in the workplace
Smoking restrictions in other public places
Public perceptions of the positive and negative implications of a ban.
The research targeted specific groups within the general public who would be expected to be significantly affected by any potential legislation. These include:
Young people (aged 16-24)
Workers in the private sector: licensed trade and hospitality sector i.e. pub and restaurant staff
Workers in the private sector: manufacturing, engineering, construction or transport sectors
Workers in the public sector: local authority
NHS workers
Pub customers.
The groups also covered a range of age groups, socio-economic groupings, both genders, and were conducted in a range of geographic locations across Scotland.
KEY FINDINGS
The main findings as set out in each of the chapters of this report are as follows:
AWARENESS OF THE CONSULTATION AND LEGISLATION
The research shows varying levels of awareness of the Scottish Executive consultation by participants. Some respondents are aware of a ban in Ireland but there are mixed opinions about whether or not this is perceived to have been successful. Few respondents have any in-depth knowledge about legislation on this issue and its impact in other countries.
PASSIVE SMOKING: ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOUR
It is generally recognised that there is less tolerance to smoking in public places. However, some still argue that smokers have a right to smoke in some enclosed public places. Whilst this is more often a smoker's view, there are some non-smokers who are supportive of the right to smoke.
For most respondents, a clear distinction is made between places where smoking could be tolerated and those where it should be banned. There also continues to be an ingrained assumption that smoking is acceptable in pubs and clubs. This is because smoking is for many respondents closely associated with drinking alcohol, relaxing and having fun. This means that the onus is often on the non-smoker to tolerate smoky places if they have friends who smoke with whom they wish to socialise, and many non-smokers accept this. To many, pubs and clubs are amongst the last few venues where smoking is permitted with minimal restrictions.
Some respondents will choose to frequent less smoky environments when they go out socialising if they possibly can, but admit that it is very difficult to find smoke free venues. However, some places are better ventilated than others and if circumstances permit, non-smokers try to frequent these.
In relation to smoking in other public places, respondents are aware that there are already voluntary smoking restrictions in place in the majority of other public places. Where these exist, they are regarded as being acceptable, as the reasons for their existence are generally understood. However, the increasing propensity of smoking restrictions leaves some smokers feeling that there are few provisions made for them.
There is some debate over whether or not smoking should be banned in certain places such as hospitals, prisons and care homes that are effectively people's homes as well as falling into the category of enclosed public places and workplaces for other people operating within them.
There is also a view that a range of alternative measures could be introduced in place of a complete ban.
HEALTH ISSUES
Many respondents are aware that there are significant health risks associated with active smoking. However, the level of understanding of the range of health risks is varied. Passive smoking is considered to be less risky than active smoking and some respondents deny that it is significantly damaging to health. Some smokers deny or ignore the health information and statistics that identify a clear link between smoking and terminal diseases. A small number of respondents have inaccurate information about the health implications of smoking.
Ventilation is currently perceived to relieve the problem and some regard improved ventilation to be an adequate solution to the problem of passive smoking.
The majority of respondents recognise the importance of protecting children from smoky environments. Children and babies are recognised as lacking the authority or ability to make choices over the environment that their parents choose for them. Many smoking parents try to avoid smoking in the presence of their children in enclosed places, although not all parents successfully fulfil this intention.
SMOKING IN DIFFERENT TYPES OF PUBLIC PLACE
Smoking in the workplace
Respondents perceive three main levels of smoking policy in different work places:
Work places with smoking polices restricting where smoking is permitted which are
respected and generally regarded as acceptable and desirable: e.g. offices, work places where food is prepared (kitchens; food and drink manufacturing companies), local authority buildings.
Work places where smoking policies restricting smoking exist but are
violated e.g. some manufacturing industries, factories, construction sites, transport companies, hospitals.
Work places where smoking policies
do not exist: e.g. in some licensed trade and hospitality industry premises, some manufacturing and industrial sites, some construction sites, some transport companies.
Different standards of policy for different types of work places are assumed to be the norm. An inferior standard, therefore, applies to some workers. This is often in relation to a specific location or venue offering leisure activities for others and the focus tends to be on users of the facility, rather than employees. For example, workers in the licensed trade and hospitality sector are expected to tolerate smoky environments as it is part and parcel of the job.
The construction, transport and manufacturing industries are industries where smoking may still be permitted. This is particularly likely in construction and transport. Respondents indicate that smoking policies that do exist are not taken seriously and frequently violated. Little regard is given to issues relating to health and safety in the workplace or an employee's right to a smoke free workplace.
Smoking in other public places
The restrictions on smoking that currently apply in other public places (public transport, shops, aeroplanes, malls, offices etc) are generally accepted by the majority of respondents. This indicates that opinions are likely to follow existing norms. Whilst some might be concerned now that a ban affects convenience and/or choice, others believe that people will quickly grow to accept the change.
There continues to be some debate over smoking restrictions in hospitals. There is also debate over restrictions in places that are a home for some people but a workplace for others such as prisons and care homes.
Smoking in restaurants and pubs
Banning smoking in restaurants is regarded as particularly desirable. There is also a tacit acknowledgement from some smokers that they may need to accept restrictions on smoking in some public places if they are to avoid an outright ban everywhere. Smoke free restaurants, and other places serving food, are a more acceptable compromise to many than a ban in pubs. In contrast, there is a deeply ingrained assumption that the pub is one of the few places where smoking should be freely allowed.
MAKING ALL PUBLIC PLACES SMOKE-FREE
Limitations of this work
There is varied support for making all public places smoke-free. It is not possible to quantify the level of support for and against a ban in numeric terms based purely on focus group research. Information about the extent to which views are held is derived from the omnibus survey. The focus group findings can only provide an indication of the types of views that are held amongst the population and explore in greater detail the factors responsible for them.
Many of the respondents, including smokers, non-smokers and ex-smokers, are willing to accept that the time has come for some restrictions to be enforced on smoking in enclosed public places.
Some respondents are clearly in favour of a complete ban, primarily because of a personal dislike of smoking and a concern for personal health. There are also a number of positive consequences expected and these include:
More pleasant smoke free social environments
Non smokers more likely to go out more often
Improved health for both smokers and non-smokers
Help smokers smoke less or give up
Improve image of Scottish Executive as taking an assertive stance on an issue of public concern.
However, some have reservations about the introduction of a complete ban for a number of reasons:
Negative economic consequences for the licensed trade and hospitality sector
Infringement of individual rights
Health argument is not sufficient reason
Government will lose tax
Government is only concerned to avoid litigation in future
Difficult to enforce such legislation
Negative impact on community fabric.
These individuals would prefer partial measures such as:
The introduction of designated or separated smoking areas
A staged approach to the introduction of a ban
Restrict smoking at the bar service areas only
Restrict smoking in areas where food is served only
Allow proprietors to choose for themselves to offer a smoking or non-smoking environment.
The key finding from the focus groups is that there are mixed views about banning smoking in public places and the reasons for these are identified throughout the report.
There is certainly some level of support for a complete ban on smoking in public places and that this could be enforced through legislation. However, there are also some respondents who would prefer more moderate policies to be introduced which they believe will help to reduce the impact of ETS sufficiently, whilst continuing to allow an element of choice for smokers and non-smokers.
One thing that is clear is that the majority of respondents would accept that the time has come for increased smoke-free provision.
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