Pyramid customers say no to smoking ban

Over 75 per cent of pub customers do not want a ban on smoking in pubs and restaurants, says new research by Pyramid Pub Company. ​Its survey of 1,411 pub customers found that 73 per cent of customers favoured improved extraction and ventilation as the way forward for the pub trade.No smoking in food areas was supported by 67 per cent of pub customers while 58 per cent called for separate smoking areas. The survey also asked the customers if they supported smoking bans in other public buildings, such as shops, council offices and restaurants. Over half of respondents supported banning smoking in these places. However, 75 per cent were against a ban in pubs and bars.Among smokers the results showed that 83 per cent of customers do not want a ban while nearly 60 per cent of non-smokers do not feel a total ban is necessary to control smoking.More importantly the survey also looked at the impact a smoking ban would have on customer visits to pubs. The results showed that if smoking was banned, the number of regular pub-goers who go more than twice a week would almost half. Paul Davies (pictured)​, Pyramid executive chairman, said: "The anti-smoking lobby is producing a persuasive momentum behind a ban, but this should be considered and thought through carefully with regards to pubs. "We need government to show leadership and possibly some original thinking. "The stated risk changes day by day, we need to get a true handle on the risk with independent assessment that is not polarised into each camp. Some pubs may well be able to tolerate an outright ban but I feel for many it will be catastrophic."The extensive research found that 42 per cent of respondents were smokers who admitted to more than 20 a day, 20 per cent said they smoked less than 20 per day and four per cent smoked less than 20 per month. Non-smokers accounted for just over 33 per cent of respondents - 20 per cent had never smoked and 13 per cent were ex-smokers.The figures support a random telephone poll of 10,000 people conducted by pro-smoking group FOREST which revealed that 74 per cent of people do not support a ban on smoking in pubs and bars. Where smoking should be banned​

How should smoke be controlled?​