Welsh Assembly: Smoke ban a success
A total of 84% of the public now support the smoking ban in Wales, according to the Welsh Assembly on the anniversary of the ban.
The Assembly said that support for the ban had risen from 71% and its research showed the ban had been a "popular measure".
Just one business - the Plough Inn in Morriston, Swansea - was fined for breaching the regulations along with 79 individuals.
"The trade reacted very positively, reporting other handy spin offs including less need for regular redecoration and removal of defunct ventilation equipment," said director of public protection David Jones.
"The public also reacted favourably, with a common response of 'we don't return from the pub now stinking of cigarette smoke'.
"So it's been positively received nationally, with very few complaints over the last 12 months."
Chief medical officer Tony Jewell hailed the ban as a "milestone" for public health but said the exposure of children to second-hand smoke at home was still a concern.
Air quality
Julie Barratt, director of Chartered Institute of Environmental Health in Wales said: "The average reduction in airborne particulates was 77%, however nearly half of the pubs showed a reduction of 90%, the biggest reduction being 99%.
"This represents a very significant improvement in air quality for staff and customers alike."
Stop Smoking Wales reported that 33% of smokers were smoking less while 20% more people contacted the service for advice.
The Welsh Assembly Government expects the health implications of the ban to be similar to those in Scotland, which show a 17% reduction in heart attack admissions and an 86% n in bar workers' exposure to second-hand smoke.
However, secretary of the Licensed Victuallers Associations Wales John Price, said 17 pubs and three clubs in the south of Wales had closed since the introduction of the ban.
"My own pub, the Clydach Vale Hotel in Tonypandy, Rhondda now closes every Tuesday and Wednesday because there's just not enough trade," he said.
"Trade is down about 40% here."
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