Majority of Spaniards in favor of extended smoking ban: survey

2010-01-11

Some 56 percent of Spaniards support a government plan to extend the current smoking ban to more public places, a survey of El Pais newspaper showed Sunday.

Having prohibited smoking in the workplace in 2006, the Spanish government now plans to extend the ban to bars and other enclosed public areas in 2010.

The proposed legislation, if approved, would bring Spain into line with other European nations such as Britain, France, Ireland and Italy.

The European Union, which Spain is presiding over for the next six months, wants all member states to ban smoking in bars and other enclosed public spaces by 2012.

The El Pais survey showed that 56 percent of respondents were in favor of the government plan, while 42 percent were against it.

Of the supporters, 40 percent said they were strongly in favor while, among the opponents, 30 percent were strongly against it.

The survey also showed that political views of the respondents might have been a factor, as the majority of supporters of the ruling Socialist Party declared themselves to be strongly in favor of the plan.

Among supporters of the right-wing Popular Party, opinions toward the extended smoking ban were split down the middle.

Source: China View