A blanket ban on smoking in all pubs became increasingly likely last night after it was claimed there has been a strong shift in public opinion.
The anti-smoking charity, Action on Smoking and Health (Ash), says most informed people now support a comprehensive ban. The claim came amid rumours that the government has dropped its plans to exempt pubs that do not serve food.
A YouGov poll carried out for Ash found 41 per cent of people wanted pubs to be smoke free, while 39 per cent favoured restrictions.
In follow-up questions, presenting those asked with scientific data on the links between passive smoking and illness, 52 per cent welcomed a complete ban.
A separate poll by the Office for National Statistics in autumn 2003, found only 20 per cent of people wanted a ban everywhere, while a survey last year showed support had risen to 31 per cent.
The point about the latest poll 'is not just the results, but the speed and direction of change', said Deborah Arnott, director of Ash. 'Support for going completely smoke free has doubled from 2003 to 2005.'
But Freedom of the Right to Enjoy Smoking Tobacco (Forest), said people did not want a blanket ban and questioned Ash's use of scientific data to produce the results. 'It's not surprising some people's opinions have shifted. They have been bombarded with calls for a blanket ban,' said Simon Clark, director of Forest. 'Our polls show 70 per cent against a [complete] ban.'
Scotland will go completely smoke free next year and the Welsh Assembly is seeking powers to introduce a comprehensive ban in Wales.
The Publican newspaper says the government has opted to scrap the exemptions following a consultation exercise, but a spokeswoman for the Department of Health said no decision had been reached: 'We will be considering all of the responses to the consultation on our proposals in the White Paper before legislation goes to Parliament. We will look carefully at all the evidence put forward.'
Patricia Hewitt, the Health Secretary, is known to have reservations about whether exemptions would work, and the Treasury and Office of the Deputy Prime Minister are also thought to be behind a blanket ban. Former Health Secretary John Reid, however, is continuing to lobby for exemptions.
Public health officials and unions have also attacked the government's plan. 'It's just bizarre. It's going to be a nightmare to enforce,' said Andy Hull, chair of Smoke Free Liverpool, which, along with London, plans to introduce its own comprehensive ban in all public places.
