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Smoking in Public Places
A Consultation on Reducing Exposure to Second Hand Smoke
Key Findings from Focus Group Research

C HAPTER THREE: AWARENESS OF THE CONSULTATION AND ISSUE OF SMOKING IN PUBLIC PLACES

3.1 This section outlines the levels of awareness amongst members of the public of:

• the consultation process in Scotland

• the introduction of similar legislation in other countries

• the discussion surrounding the introduction of a ban on smoking in public places.

AWARENESS OF THE CONSULTATION

3.2 The degree to which the general public has been aware of the consultation process going on in Scotland throughout the summer months is quite mixed. Whilst some respondents were completely unaware that a public consultation on banning smoking in public places has been running, other respondents in some of the groups were aware of it. Very few of the people that we spoke to in the focus groups had actually completed a questionnaire but quite a number were keen to take one away with a view to completing it after they had participated in the focus group.

3.3 A greater number of respondents were aware of the advertising campaign that has been ongoing over the summer months to demonstrate the impact of passive smoking on health, although most respondents did not associate this directly with the consultation itself. Respondents were also aware of other adverts that have been shown recently to demonstrate the dangers of active smoking.

3.4 The impact of the advertising campaign also seems to have been varied. The most memorable image was that of a baby subjected to the cigarette smoke of the mother. Many respondents remember this advert which is noted as being particularly moving as it draws attention to a baby's vulnerability, lack of choice and inability to protect itself. The other advertisements have less impact as they show adults who are assumed to be capable of making their own decisions regarding being subjected to secondary smoke.

3.5 It might be expected that the respondents participating in groups conducted later in the summer would have had greater awareness of the consultation as a result of the ongoing publicity, contributing to increased awareness. However, it was not possible to detect a pattern of increasing awareness in later groups. Some individuals in certain groups were aware and some individuals were not. This is not to imply that awareness did not improve throughout the summer, it was simply not detectable in the focus groups.

3.6 There is high awareness of the introduction of legislation in Ireland, with numbers in nearly all of the groups spontaneously mentioning Ireland. There are markedly mixed views about whether or not the impact of the ban has been positive or negative. This might reflect the fact, which was made evident at the National Conference on 9 September 2004, that there is still limited data about both the economic and social impact of the ban in the Irish context, given that the law has been in place for only a short time ¹³.

3.7 Because of the lack of robust evidence about the situation in Ireland, this has resulted in some degree of hypothesising, and to some extent the opinions of the focus group respondents are based on hearsay or media reporting rather than hard evidence. There are both positive and negative interpretations.

3.8 On the one hand, some respondents draw attention to the positive consequences of the smoking ban in Ireland. In some cases, this is based on first hand experiences of those who have recently visited the country. From the perspectives of these individuals, the ban is working effectively. People are observing the restrictions and going outside to smoke. There also appear to have been few practical problems with the introduction of the legislation.

" It's working really well in Ireland… a lot of people in Ireland have accepted it and have embraced it. People are no longer just lighting up because they can, which they used to do. They have to make an active decision to go outside to do it…. It has made it so much nicer to go out…. You can take the kids to restaurants and you don't have to worry about them."
(non-smoker, Edinburgh, young people)

3.9 On the other hand, some respondents remember the doom and gloom predictions for the Irish economy that were discussed in the media before the ban was introduced. These respondents were more sceptical about the impact of the legislation on the Irish economy. They hold the view that the publicans have suffered a severe drop in trade.

"I saw a leaflet saying that Irish pubs have lost 25% of business; whether that's true or whether that's what they're telling me, I don't know. But I would believe it as far as my own situation goes. I don't know how I could survive if smokers stopped coming. And Saturday night is my most important night. I could lose two grand's worth of business after midnight and that's my weeks' wages almost."
(night club manager, smoker, Inverness, licensed trade and hospitality)

3.10 There are concerns from one or two respondents that a ban on smoking in enclosed public places will be harder to enforce during winter or that the weather will act as a further disincentive to using the pub and thereby suppress the numbers of pub users overall.

3.11 The level of awareness of bans existing in other countries is very limited. A few respondents are aware that some other countries or regions within countries have introduced some sort of restriction on smoking in public places, but few are able to identify exactly where these exist nor what exactly they consist of. Some respondents mentioned Canada, California, Norway and Australia but further details about the legislation and its impact are not generally known.

3.12 Respondents are not aware of when legislation in other countries was brought in, nor of debates surrounding the introduction of the legislation. They are also unaware of how successful the legislation in other countries has been, how effectively restrictions or bans have been imposed, nor of the impact that legislation has had both in economic, social and health terms.

3.13 This is discussed in greater detail in chapter seven. However, it is useful at this point to provide a brief summary of initial reactions. A number of respondents recognise the need for some degree of change, although whether or not they believe that this should be undertaken through legislation varies greatly. There is not universal support for a complete ban on smoking in public places and many respondents are keen to explore alternative measures in the interests of maintaining some level of flexibility. That said, many respondents recognise that to provide options could well result in an uneven playing field and that it might be fairer to impose the same restrictions on a universal basis. For example, if measures were to be introduced requiring all enclosed public places to provide separated areas for smoking and non-smoking, this would automatically disadvantage those venues that are not large enough or do not have the appropriate layout to provide a separate room and they could suffer in the competitive market place.

3.14 The strongest support for a complete ban comes from non-smokers or ex-smokers, although many also argue for less severe measures. A smaller number of smokers express support for a complete ban for particular reasons, because they feel that the current system is unfair, because they recognise that this degree of smoking restriction is necessary to help them to quit or because they accept a need for all to be treated in the same way.

3.15 When asked to give reasons for their views on the introduction of smoking bans, reasons were often based on anecdotal feedback or hypothesis, rather than factual detail.

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