94% of bar workers had little difficulty in effecting smoking ban

Some 94 per cent of bar workers have experienced little or no difficulty in implementing the workplace smoking ban, a new survey has found.

Before the smoking ban was introduced almost a year ago, bar owners had expressed concern at the implementation of the ban and the Vintners' Federation claimed it would be impossible to police.

The TNS mrbi research conducted on behalf of the Mandate trade union in the greater Dublin area also found that 87 per cent of bar workers supported the law, one year after its introduction. This is an increase of 16 per cent in support from bar workers since the ban was introduced.

Some 87 per cent of bar workers said they felt the law had already had a positive impact on their health, while 90 per cent said they believed it would have a positive impact on their health in the long-term.

Some 71 per cent of bar workers felt the social atmosphere in the pub had improved or remained the same since the introduction of the law, while 72 per cent claimed that most or all of their regular customers were still drinking in the pub.

Mandate general secretary designate John Douglas said it was no surprise that bar workers were so supportive of the legislation, given that they were one of the occupational groups most exposed to second-hand smoke.

"One year later, this research clearly shows that bar workers are enjoying working in healthy, clean and smoke-free environments, free from the dangers posed by other people's smoke," he said.

Some 82 per cent of those surveyed said they found it easier to breathe in the workplace, while 68 per cent said they coughed less often since the introduction of the law.