Opinions divided over restaurant smoking ban

More than half of diners would welcome a total ban on smoking in restaurants, according to a survey from online booking service toptable.co.uk.

Nearly 45% said they hated eating in smoky restaurants, while a further 6% would not eat in them at all.

Only 12% said they had no problem with dining in restaurants with permitted smoking areas.

Better news for smokers came with the finding that 65% of respondents would be happy to dine with smokers at outdoor tables.

Toptable.co.uk surveyed nearly 2,000 of its users and also asked more than 60 of its restaurant partners.

Among the restaurant owners, opinion was divided equally on the question of whether customers would be deterred from visiting their establishment if a smoking ban was introduced.

While only 35% offered designated no-smoking areas in their restaurants, 65% said they had concerns over the effects of passive smoking on their staff.

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