This customer survey of the most important leisure businesses (public houses and restaurants) was carried out to provide useful comparative and complementary information to the ASH/HEBS telephone survey of leisure businesses across Scotland. Whilst the results cannot directly determine the most appropriate strategic approach for reducing the harmful effects of smoke in public houses and restaurants, they reveal low levels of public awareness in Scotland of the health risks of passive smoking. This demonstrates a need to inform the public, both smokers and non-smokers, about the benefits of restrictions on smoking in public places. In particular, the belief that ventilation systems provide an adequate means of protecting the public from the health risks of passive smoking should be addressed.
The survey showed that there was a general respect for the rights of others, by both smokers and non-smokers. There was some awareness of the public health dilemma arising from the harm passive smoking can cause, although for some the disbenefits of a smoky atmosphere were assessed in terms of comfort rather than health.
A significant finding for public health strategy is that most smokers and many non-smokers accept smoking restrictions where they are largely in place, such as in restaurants. Opposition and negative attitudes towards restrictions were found to be stronger with respect to public houses, where restrictions are rare, which suggests that when they are introduced they tend to be supported, or at least attract support as they become customary. Given the attitudes to current restrictions in public places, restaurants and on public transport, there may be a tendency to overestimate the difficulties involved in introducing restrictions in public houses. It seems likely that well targeted public information could assist the process whereby smoking in public houses would no longer be the norm. That being said, the presentation of such information should be developed with the understanding that smokers, and numerous non-smokers, perceive that the social and economic issues for public houses and restaurants are not identical.
There are a number of strands that could be adopted within an overall strategy on restricting smoking in public places: -
1 A mass media public information campaign about the health risks of passive smoking. While this could focus to some extent on public houses, it is more important that a wider public health message about passive smoking is promoted.
2 Increase the level of awareness of the Voluntary Charter and the proposed Approved Code of Practice amongst the general public. Whilst the Charter is a voluntary measure directed mainly at publicans and restaurateurs it is important that the public are aware of the reasons for the charter. If the public is made aware of the need to protect public health from the risks of passive smoking, then they are more likely to support the Charter and possibly to raise it in the public houses and restaurants they frequent.
3 Work on promoting the Charter and proposed Approved Code of Practice should continue.
4 During the transition to introducing smoking restrictions, ventilation systems could be installed to reduce exposure to environmental tobacco smoke although this should only be viewed as an interim measure, given evidence exists showing ventilation does not reduce the health risks associated with environmental tobacco smoke.