Majority for smoking ban in restaurants

Survey of the Cancer Research Center: Attitude of smokers is changing

09/12/2013

Since the introduction of non-smoker protection laws in 2005, the attitude of many citizens on the subject „Smoke-free restaurants“ changed. At that time, only 53 percent supported the smoking ban. Today, approval is almost 82 percent. This resulted in a survey commissioned by the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ).

Nearly 82 percent of Germans agree to ban smoking in restaurants
On behalf of the DKFZ, the Gesellschaft für Konsumforschung (GfK) had interviewed 2,000 Germans about non-smoker protection laws. It showed that a large majority of respondents supported the smoking ban in restaurants. „This broad acceptance for non-smoker protection in the catering industry is mainly due to a change in attitudes of smokers“, reports Martina Pötschke-Langer, Head of the Cancer Prevention Unit at the DKFZ. „While in 2007, when the federal states introduced nonsmoker protection laws, only 30 percent of smokers opted for smoke-free restaurants, their share increased to 59 percent by 2013, nearly doubling.“ According to the survey, a total of almost 82 percent of Germans speak out in favor of smoking in restaurants.

As reported by the DKFZ, individual pub owners in North Rhine-Westphalia are currently trying to persuade the state government, with sometimes aggressive campaigns, to ease non-smoker protection laws. „The survey results show that the vociferous groups of smokers are in conflict with the interests of the vast majority of the population“, explains Pötschke-Langer. The population was also not impressed by the massive campaigns of the tobacco lobby. (Ag)

Image: Lichtkunst.73