A major new national poll released today shows that the public believes anti-smoking laws have gone far enough.
The Populus survey of a representative national sample of more than 2,000 people carried out on Wednesday and Thursday last week also found that people in Britain are strongly against the use of taxpayers’ money to lobby government.
Conducted on behalf of smokers' group Forest, the poll found that a majority of adults oppose bans on smoking in public parks and private vehicles.
The poll comes the day before the publication of a report by Action on Smoking and Heath (ASH) that will recommend further tobacco control measures following the introduction of the tobacco display ban and standardised packaging.
Asked to rate government priorities for the National Health Service, respondents rated investing in new doctors and nurses as the highest priority.
Addressing response times at A&E was the second highest ranked priority overall. Improving general waiting times was ranked third.
Among the issues listed, tackling smoking was the lowest priority, behind tackling obesity and alcohol misuse.
Over three-quarters (77%) think that taxpayers’ money should NOT be used to lobby government.
A majority of respondents think that smoking should be permitted in outdoor public parks; 53% versus 47% who say it should not be allowed.
Over half (55%) believe adults should be allowed to smoke in private vehicles when children are not present; 45% think they should not be allowed.
More than half (57%) think pubs and private members’ clubs, including working men's clubs, should be allowed to provide a well-ventilated designated smoking room to accommodate smokers; 43% say they should not be allowed to provide smoking rooms.
Opinion is divided evenly on whether actors should or should not be allowed to smoke on stage when smoking is integral to the plot or storyline, with 50% saying they should and 50% saying they should not.
Opinion is split on whether smokers with mental problems should or shouldn’t be allowed to smoke in the grounds of psychiatric hospitals, with 48% saying they should, and 52% saying they should not.
Three fifths (61%) of those who have a long-standing mental health condition believe that smokers with mental health problems should be allowed to smoke in the grounds of psychiatric hospitals.
"It’s clear there is no strong desire among the public for a further programme of tobacco control measures.