In 1996, California became the first U.S. state to implement a
statewide ban on smoking in all workplaces and restaurants; since
then, several other states and numerous local governments have
followed suit. In Canada, provincewide smoking bans in New
Brunswick and Manitoba go into effect this Friday, with
Saskatchewan to follow in January 2005. Great Britain's chief
medical officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, has recommended a nationwide
smoking ban in all workplaces (including restaurants and bars) --
to the applause of several political leaders and advocacy groups.
But British government and industry leaders are still at odds on
how to implement smoking bans, and it is currently up to the
individual businesses to decide.
Although these countries are following different paths toward
comprehensive smoking bans, there's no question that there is a
general trend among Western nations toward broader smoking
restrictions. Gallup recently asked adults in the United States,
Canada, and Great Britain for their opinions on smoking bans in
workplaces, restaurants, and bars*, and uncovered some surprising
results. Americans are less likely than those in Canada and Great
Britain to support smoking bans, although they are as likely as
Canadians and Britons to agree that second-hand smoke is
harmful.
Americans Less Likely to Support Smoking
Bans
When asked whether they would favor or oppose a ban in their
state to make smoking illegal in all workplaces, bars, and
restaurants, 58% of Americans say they would favor such a ban,
while 40% would oppose it. Britons and Canadians, meanwhile, show
much stronger support: About three-fourths of adults in both
countries favor bans on smoking in workplaces, restaurants, and
bars (76% in Canada, 72% in Great Britain), while only about a
quarter oppose such bans (23% in Canada, 26% in Great Britain).
Smokers Weigh In
Interestingly, Americans are no more likely than those in the
other two countries to be smokers themselves -- 25% of American
adults report smoking cigarettes in the past week, as do 27% of
Canadian adults and 29% of British adults.
It's not surprising to find that smokers in all three countries
are less likely than nonsmokers to favor bans on smoking in
workplaces, bars, and restaurants, but only in America do a
majority of smokers oppose smoking bans. Two-thirds (66%)
of Americans who've smoked in the past week oppose such bans in
their state, compared with 44% of Canadian smokers and 43% of
British smokers.
Views on Second-Hand Smoke Consistent
The main argument for smoking bans in bars and restaurants
centers around the health risks associated with second-hand smoke
(often referred to as "passive smoking" in Great Britain).
Anti-smoking advocates argue that nonsmokers who patronize, and
work in, establishments that allow smoking are put at risk for
cancer and other health problems stemming from inhaled cigarette
smoke.
But even though Americans are less likely than Canadians and
Britons to favor smoking bans, they're no less likely to believe
that second-hand smoke poses health risks. Eighty-five percent of
Americans feel that second-hand smoke is "very" or "somewhat"
harmful to adults, and an equal percentage of Britons say the same.
At 93%, Canadians are slightly more likely than Americans and
Britons to see second-hand smoke as harmful.
Do Smokers Feel Discriminated Against?
Gallup also asked smokers in all three countries if they feel
unjustly discriminated against because of increased restrictions on
smoking in public places. Because smokers in the United States are
more likely than smokers in Canada and Great Britain to oppose
smoking bans, one might assume that American smokers are also more
likely to feel unjustly discriminated against.
But that's not the case. Less than a third (31%) of Canadian
smokers feel unjustly discriminated against -- the lowest
percentage of the three countries. But American smokers and British
smokers are about equally likely to feel unjustly discriminated
against, at 39% and 42%, respectively. Relatively strong majorities
of smokers in each country say they do not feel unjustly
discriminated against as a result of increased smoking
restrictions.
Bottom Line
The fact that Americans are less enthusiastic about smoking bans
than either Canadians or Britons may relate less to their opinions
on smoking, and more to their feelings on government regulation in
general. Americans tend to believe the government should do less,
rather than more, while Britons and Canadians generally take the
opposite view.
*Results in the United States are based on telephone
interviews with 1,005 national adults, aged 18 and older, conducted
July 8-11, 2004. For results based on the total sample of national
adults, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum margin of
sampling error is ±3 percentage points. For results based on
interviews with 224 smokers, the maximum margin of sampling error
is ±7 percentage points. The survey was conducted by Gallup
USA.
Results in Canada are based on telephone interviews with
1,005 national adults, aged 18+, conducted Aug. 30-Sept. 6, 2004.
For results based on the total sample of national adults, one can
say with 95% confidence that the maximum margin of sampling error
is ±3 percentage points. For results based on interviews
with 284 smokers, the maximum margin of sampling error is ±6
percentage points. The survey was conducted by Gallup
Canada.
Results in Great Britain are based on telephone interviews
with 1,009 national adults, aged 18 and older, conducted Aug.
25-Sept. 7, 2004. For results based on the total sample of national
adults, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum margin of
sampling error is ±5 percentage points. For results based on
interviews with 260 smokers, the maximum margin of sampling error
is ±7 percentage points. The survey was conducted by Gallup
UK.
