Majority say publicans should enforce ban

Some 80 per cent of Irish people believe publicans should enforce the smoking ban, according to new research published by the Office of Tobacco Control (OTC).

The research was conducted in January before the OTC and Department of Health information campaigns were run. Support for the ban is believed to be even higher now.

In the hours before the workplace ban on smoking came into force at midnight last night, unions and the Irish Cancer Society welcomed it, heralding the ban as an unprecedented step forward in public health.

The results of the OTC's new survey, published last night, also showed strong support among smokers for the workplace smoking ban, with 61 per cent saying publicans should enforce it.

With awareness levels of the ban running at 84 per cent, a new OTC hotline for people wishing to inform on workplaces flouting the ban was expected to be inundated with callers when it began operating today.

The OTC's chief inspector, Mr Dave Molloy, said all complaints would be acted on. The new hotline - 1890 333 100 - was due to open at 8 a.m. today. "The details of their complaint will be passed on to the relevant health board or the Health and Safety Authority within a day of the complaint being made, so that they (the relevant authority) can visit the premises concerned," Mr Molloy said.

However, he urged members of the public to complain to management at workplaces where smoking is taking place, rather than use the new hotline as the first place to register their complaint. "A number of opinion polls have consistently indicated high levels of awareness and strong public support for the measure, and this has been backed by the active support of a wide range of organisations including individual trade unions such as MANDATE, IMPACT and SIPTU as well as the ICTU.

"This leads the office to the view that the smoke-free workplace legislation is being introduced into a largely supportive public environment."

Mr John Douglas, national official with the MANDATE union, said he was confident the union's members would work with publicans to ensure full and smooth implementation of the legislation.

The union had been concerned for years at the extent to which second-hand smoke was damaging workers going about their jobs in a variety of workplaces.

"It is paramount that drinkers understand and respect the responsibility of publicans and bar workers under the legislation," he said.

The Irish Cancer Society said 27 per cent of the population were smokers, with 36 per cent of these in the 18 to 34 age group. "Young people go to pubs and clubs in their late teens," said Mr John McCormack, the society's chief executive.

"The Irish Cancer Society therefore views the introduction of the ban in these workplaces, which are perhaps the most contentious, as a vital preventative measure for young people starting to smoke, in addition of course to providing protection for employees."

He said those attempting to give up cigarettes needed support from those around them.

"Smoking is not just a habit but also an addiction. As a result smokers have at least as high a rate of relapse and addiction-related mortality as do heroin addicts and need the same level of support in conquering their addiction."