[Intl-tobacco] Ireland: Support Declines for Smokefree pubs

[Robert Weissman]

Smoking ban poll shock

By Brian Dowlingnewsdesk@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
15 September 2003
Belfast Telegraph

A NEW opinion poll shows the Republic is split on the
planned smoking ban in pubs and restaurants.
This will come as another blow to the Dublin Government.

Despite expectations among Ministers that the proposed
ban would win widespread public approval, the results of
the Irish Independent/Millward Brown IMS poll show that
only 52% support the measure.

The poll reveals that 42% disapprove of the ban with just
6% offering no opinion. More worrying for the Government is
that when asked about when such a ban should be
introduced, just 37% supported Health Minister Micheal
Martin's plans to bring it in on January 1 next.

One third (33%) want it phased in, while more than one
quarter still believe the plans should be scrapped.

The findings will give renewed momentum to opponents of
the ban, especially the so-called hospitality lobby
comprising hotels, restaurants and pubs, to step up their efforts to
force the Government
to modify the proposal.

Polls earlier in the year showed a higher level of support for the ban.
These findings would
suggest the 250,000 euro campaign waged by the Irish Hospitality
Industry Alliance (IHIA)
has made some impact.

The IHIA claimed the total ban envisaged would cost 65,000 jobs and
massive losses for
the Exchequer.

Health Minister Micheal Martin dismissed this as "wild allegations" and
insisted there
would be no backing off for the measure, even though his colleagues have
been subject to
intensive lobbying.