Published: Sunday | August 11, 2013

A just-conducted survey has shown that the overwhelming majority of Jamaicans support the Government's ban on smoking in public.

The data collected by the National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA) in a rapid assessment survey showed that 83.2 per cent of the 500 respondents believe that Minister of Health Dr Fenton Ferguson was on the right path by outlawing smoking in public places.

"The survey showed that (a) majority of the respondents are in support of the new regulations which ban smoking in public places, as they recognise that there are health benefits to be gained from this, both for the smoker and non-smoker," read a section of the report.

Just under 17 per cent of the respondents said they were not in agreement with the new regulations.

Three-city assessment

The rapid assessment was conducted in three city centres days after the ban went into effect.

These were Half-Way Tree, St Andrew (July 15); Port Antonio, Portland (July 30); and Montego Bay, St James (August 2).

The assessment was to capture the public's response to the implementation of tobacco-control regulations.

The NCDA also plans to conduct a survey in May Pen, Clarendon.

The 'smoking' survey sought to determine public awareness of the tobacco control regulations, knowledge of areas designated as public places/spaces, the level of support for the new regulations, and awareness of smoking-cessation programmes.

The summary of the rapid assessment survey noted that "awareness of public places could be improved as there are members of the public who remain unaware and, therefore, may be in breach of the law".

The survey revealed that similar proportions of respondents across parish capitals (between 82 and 85 per cent) were in support of the law; however, there were significant gender differences.

"A significantly higher proportion of females (90.5 per cent) than males (75.3 per cent) indicated they were in agreement with the law," read a section of the rapid assessment.

The survey also sowed that the smoking ban was well publicised.

"Respondents were asked if they were aware of the new tobacco regulations regarding smoking in public places. Overall majority of respondents, 97.2 per cent, reported that they were aware of the regulations."

The smoking ban took effect on July 15, with some sectors expressing concerns about its roll-out even though supporting the move in principle.

Ferguson subsequently announced a period of consultation until August 13; however, he has repeatedly stated that the ban will remain in place during this time.

According to Ferguson, the law will be applied against those who continue to smoke in specified places where it is illegal to do so, although the police have been asked to concentrate on promoting awareness and giving warnings.

"I know there are certain places where some people seem to believe that the smoking ban does not apply to them, but even in this time of consultation they must know that the law can be applied, it doesn't matter who you are or where you're from," said Ferguson at a recent groundbreaking ceremony for the refurbishing and upgrade of the Claremont Health Centre in St Ann.