One of the main issues for exploration in the survey was the perception of rights: the right to smoke and the right not to be affected by the smoke of others. Respondents were therefore asked whether they felt smokers had the right to smoke in public houses and restaurants and whether non-smokers had the right to smoke free areas (see Table 4.1 and Table 4.2).
The Rights of Smokers
The majority of smokers thought they had the right to smoke in restaurants and public houses, particularly public houses. Nearly two thirds of non-smokers also felt smokers had the right to smoke in public houses but only a minority of non-smokers thought that smokers should have the right to smoke in restaurants. Urban respondents were more likely to support the rights of smokers than urban ones.
| Table 4-1 The Rights of Smokers | ||||||
| People Have the Right to Smoke in... | Smokers % | Non-smokers % | ||||
| Yes % | No % | Don't Know % | Yes % | No % | Don't Know % | |
| Public Houses | 94 | 2 | 4 | 63 | 30 | 7 |
| Restaurants | 70 | 22 | 9 | 37 | 59 | 4 |
| Public Houses | ||||||
| Urban | 96 | 2 | 3 | 72 | 22 | 6 |
| Rural | 92 | 3 | 4 | 57 | 35 | 8 |
| Restaurants | ||||||
| Urban | 78 | 20 | 2 | 47 | 50 | 3 |
| Rural | 62 | 24 | 15 | 29 | 66 | 5 |
The majority of non-smokers felt they had the right to smoke free areas, particularly in restaurants. Nearly two thirds of smokers felt that non-smokers had the right to smoke free areas in public houses and 82% thought that this should be the case in restaurants. Urban smokers and non-smokers were more concerned about the right of non-smokers to smoke free areas in public houses and restaurants than rural smokers and non-smokers. Urban respondents were also more likely to support the rights of smokers.
| Table 4-2 The Rights of Non-Smokers | ||||||
| Non-smokers Have the Right to Smoke Free Areas in... | Smokers % | Non-smokers % | ||||
| Yes % | No % | Don't Know % | Yes % | No % | Don't Know % | |
| Public Houses | 65 | 28 | 7 | 83 | 12 | 5 |
| Restaurants | 82 | 11 | 6 | 94 | 3 | 3 |
| Public Houses | ||||||
| Urban | 72 | 22 | 6 | 93 | 5 | 2 |
| Rural | 58 | 34 | 8 | 75 | 17 | 8 |
| Restaurants | ||||||
| Urban | 85 | 11 | 5 | 96 | 2 | 2 |
| Rural | 80 | 12 | 8 | 92 | 4 | 4 |
Overall, these findings suggest a general preparedness to respect the rights of others, whether smokers or non-smokers. However, there appeared to be some emphasis on the rights of non-smokers in restaurants and of smokers in public houses. This could imply that, where smoking restrictions are already partly in place, such as in restaurants compared with public houses, they are accepted by both smokers and non-smokers.