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Smoking in Public Places
A Consultation on Reducing Exposure to Second Hand Smoke
Report of an Omnibus Survey

CHAPTER FIVE RESEARCH FINDINGS

5.1 This section of the report will summarise the main findings from the research undertaken with a representative sample of the Scottish population, and will draw on any variations across demographic groups where evident, or where sample sizes allow.

SMOKING POLICY IN WORKPLACE

5.2 The survey sought information about work place smoking policies from those respondents in employment. A third of respondents who were in some form of employment reported that smoking was allowed within designated areas on the premises.

5.3 In just over a quarter of all instances, workplace policy allowed for smoking in designated areas outside the premises, with a similar proportion having indicated that smoking was not allowed anywhere within the workplace either on or off the premises.

5.4 For around one in ten of all those currently employed, uncertainty was evident with regards to the smoking policy within the workplace.

5.5 Core to the objectives of the research, all respondents were asked whether they believed further action needs to be taken to reduce peoples exposure to passive smoking / second hand smoke, together with investigating views held towards smoking in enclosed public spaces.

5.6 Overall, just over half of all respondents believed that further action does need to be taken to reduce exposure to passive smoking with just over a third perceiving that no action need be taken.

5.7 Strength of support for further action was strongest amongst those who have never smoked, with three quarters of this particular audience perceiving that further action does need to be taken.

5.8 Current smokers were more likely to be of the view that no further action needs to be taken (55%).

5.9 Again, given the nature of the research, and consistent with the consultation exercise itself, all respondents were asked if they would support a law that would make enclosed public places smoke free.

5.10 As with attitudes towards the need for further action in reducing exposure to passive smoking, support for a law to make enclosed public places smoke free was fairly mixed, with just over half of all respondents in support of such a law, and around a third unsupportive.

5.11 Again, support for such a law was most prominent amongst those who have never smoked (77%) and those who had smoked in the past (61%). In addition, those respondents whose workplace policy prohibited smoking anywhere within the place of work were also more likely to be in support of such a law (63%).

5.12 Although support for such a law was higher amongst non smokers, around a third of current smokers indicated that they too would support such a law.

5.13 Geographically, those respondents living in the North were most likely to be in support of such a law (65%) in comparison to those in the West and East (around a half).

5.14 Those not in support were more inclined to be current smokers (59%).

5.15 Looking specifically at those who supported a law to make enclosed public places smoke free, two thirds were also of the opinion that should such a law be introduced there should be exemptions from it. Those in support of such exemptions were more likely to be current smokers (78%), be male rather than female (69% and 62% respectively), and be living in the West (70%).

5.16 Nonetheless, a strong minority (24%) believed that there should be no exemptions.

5.17 In investigating attitudes towards exemptions in more detail, those individuals who were in support of such a law were asked which enclosed public places they think should be exempt from this law if it was introduced.

5.18 Spontaneously, just over half of this particular audience mentioned pubs as a place which they think should be exempt from this law if it was introduced, with this being particularly true amongst current smokers (74%) and those aged 25 - 34 years (65%).

5.19 Around a fifth spontaneously mentioned clubs as an enclosed public space that should be exempt from this law with this again being particularly true amongst current smokers (around a third) and those living in the East and North (27% respectively).

5.20 Around a quarter of current smokers who were in support of the law thought restaurants should be exempt if such a law were introduced.

5.21 Those respondents who had earlier indicated that they would not support such a law or were unsure of supporting such a law were asked to explain their views further.

5.22 The principal reason offered for not supporting such a law was the belief that smokers have the right to smoke in public places, with almost half of all of those not supporting such a law perceiving this to be the case. These particular respondents were more inclined to be from the DE socio economic group (57%) and be current smokers (55%). Views here were not exclusive to current smokers, with a third (33%) of those who have never smoked and who indicated that they were not in support of such a law also being of the opinion that smokers have the right to smoke in public places.

5.23 For around a fifth of those not supporting a law, the perception that non smokers can chose to avoid smoky places was a key reason, with views here being strongest amongst those living in the West (24%) in comparison to those in the East (17%) or North (12%).

5.24 A fifth of those not supporting such a law were of the opinion that enough is being done already to restrict smoking in public places, with these particular respondents tending to be from the West and East (21% and 23% respectively). A number of other reasons for non support were also given, including the perception that designated non smoking areas, or improving ventilation would be an adequate solution, with around one in ten also expressing their opinion that the Government is trying to dictate to the public what they can and cannot do.

5.25 Inviting them to make further comments, all respondents were asked an open ended question with respect to anything else they would like to add about their views on passive smoking. The majority had nothing further to add. Only small numbers expressed further views which included having certain designated areas for smokers and non smokers (5%), the need for smokers to be more considerate to others (3%) and the expression of opinions with respect to the banning of smoking altogether were mentioned by a minority (2%).

5.26 In line with the objectives of the research, all respondents were asked a number of questions with respect to recent advertising awareness about the health risks of smoking and passive smoking in particular.

5.27 Overall, almost three quarters of all respondents claimed to be aware of recent advertising about the health risks of passive smoking. Awareness levels here were slightly higher amongst females (78%) in comparison to males (66%), those aged 35 - 44 years (80%) and those living in the North (82%).

5.28 Those unaware of such recent advertising were more inclined to be younger (16 - 24 year olds - 33%) and male (31%).

5.29 All respondents were asked specifically if they had seen or heard anything in the media with the respect to the Scottish Executive's public consultation exercise on smoking in public places.

5.30 Just over a third (37%) claimed to be aware of having seen or heard such coverage in the media. In particular, these respondents were more inclined to be aged 45 - 54 years (45%), be from the AB socio economic group (47%) and be living in the North (41%). There was little variation with respect to current smoking status on awareness levels.

5.31 Almost 6 in 10 claimed to be unaware of any media coverage with respect to the consultation, with this being slightly more evident amongst those aged 16 - 24 years (62%) or 65+ years (63%) and those from the DE socio economic group (62%).

5.32 Those who claimed to be aware of having seen or heard something in the media with respect to the Scottish Executive's public consultation exercise on smoking in public places were then asked if they had considered responding to the consultation itself. Looking specifically at this particular group, a high proportion (59%) indicated that they did consider responding to the public consultation but decided not to, with strength of opinion here being highest amongst current smokers (70%) and those living in the East (64%).

5.33 Just over a fifth of this particular audience indicated that they have considered responding to the public consultation on smoking with strength of opinion here being highest amongst non smokers (31%).

5.34 Overall, just under 1 in 10 of those aware of media coverage stated that they had in fact responded to the consultation on smoking (NOTE base sizes do not allow for extrapolating variations across demographic groups).

5.35 Looking specifically now at those who had previously indicated that they were not aware of having seen or heard anything in the media about the public consultation on smoking in public places, around one in seven indicated that had they known more about it they would have considered responding. Geographic variations were evident here with those living in the North being more likely to have considered a response (36%) in comparison to those in the West (11%) or East (10%). Those who used to smoke in the past but have since stopped were also slightly more likely to hold this particular view (19%).

5.36 Nonetheless, almost half of those who were unaware of any media coverage stated that they would not have considered responding even if they knew more about it, with strength of opinion here being highest amongst those aged 65+ (59%), DE's (54%), males (50%) and those living in the East (56%).

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