EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Background & Objectives
1. This research, commissioned by the Scottish Executive, gathered information on public awareness and opinions in relation to new legislation that will make certain enclosed public places smoke-free. The research was carried out by placing a module of questions in mruk omnibus surveys conducted in May, August and November of 2005 and January 2006.
Methodology
2. Given the nature of the research, a quantitative research exercise was required, with an in-home omnibus approach being considered the most appropriate methodology in addressing the objectives.
Sample profile
3. A total of 1,040 in-home interviews were undertaken in August 2005, 1,042 in May 2005, 1,041 in November 2005 and 1,040 in January 2006. Each set of interviews were undertaken with a representative sample of the population in Scotland using mruk's in-home Scottish omnibus. Interviews were conducted across 52 constituency based sampling points selected to be geographically representative of the population in Scotland. Interviews were conducted on a random route basis within sampling points. Quotas were established for age, gender and socio economic group with only one interview per household being undertaken. The fieldwork was conducted between 6 th and 12 th May 2005 (for the May omnibus), 12 th and 18 th August 2005 (for the August omnibus), 9 th and 15 th November 2005 (for the November omnibus) and 11 th and 17th January 2006 (for the January omnibus).
4. In each wave of the omnibus the achieved sample was split evenly across genders, with half being conducted with male respondents, and half with female respondents. A spread of ages was achieved in line with the population in Scotland and just under half of the interviews were undertaken with respondents in socio economic groups AB and C1, with the remainder being from C2DE socio economic groupings.
5. In January 2006 and November 2005 the proportion of current smokers was 38% and a similar number of respondents stated that they had never smoked (37% in January 2006, 42% in November, 41% in August and 45% in May 2005). This is compared to nearly half of all respondents in the August 2005 omnibus reporting that they were current smokers (47%), which was higher than in the May 2005 omnibus (36%). A slightly higher proportion of respondents in January 2006 stated that they used to smoke but had now stopped, 25% in comparison with 20% in November, 12% in August and 19% in May 2005.
6. Amongst those who were currently employed in the January 2006 omnibus, less than a fifth (18%) were employed in workplaces that had designated areas on the premises where people could smoke (compared with 26% in November, 25% in August and 30% in May 2005). In January 2006 almost a quarter (23%) had designated smoking areas outside the premises (compared with 21% in November, 24% in August and 29% in May 2005). The most recent research in January 2006 found 46% stating that smoking was not allowed anywhere at their work, an increase from 35% in November, 32% in August and 26% in May 2005.
7. With regards to the smoking 'policy' in the household, 47% in January 2006 (42% in November, 46% in August and 41% in May 2005) did not permit smoking anywhere in the home. There were a further 28% of January 2006 respondents who allowed smoking throughout their home (33% in November, 30% in August and 28% in May 2005). About a quarter in each wave stated that smoking was allowed in the home but only in certain rooms.
Summary of main findings
8. Overall, there continued to be a high level of awareness of the new legislation that will make enclosed public places smoke-free (92% in January 2006, 92% in November, 93% in August and 90% in May 2005). Spontaneous awareness of the date when the smoking ban will be introduced (only asked in November 2005 and January 2006) increased dramatically from 8% in November 2005 to 41% in January 2006. Upon prompting 74% in January 2006 compared with 42% in November 2005 correctly identified that 26 th March 2006 is when the smoking ban comes into force. Awareness of the correct date was also significantly higher amongst those who recalled seeing the television advertising (81%) compared to those who did not (66%).
9. Perceptions of the risk associated with passive smoking remained consistent in the January 2006 survey with 89% of respondents (compared to 90% in November, 85% in August and 83% in May 2005) perceiving that passive smoking and second-hand smoke posed a medium, great or extremely great risk. In January 2006 36% of respondents perceived that smoking poses an extremely great health risk, 29% thought it posed a great risk and 24% thought it posed a medium health risk. The proportion of smokers who perceived passive smoking as an extremely great health risk was 17% in January 2006 in comparison with 21% in November, 20% in August and 11% in May 2005. A significantly higher proportion of to ex-smokers perceived passive smoking as an extremely great health risk in January 2006 (41%), November 2005 (45%) and August 2005 (34%) compared to May 2005 (20%).
10. The majority of respondents also agreed that action should be taken to reduce people's exposure to passive smoking and second hand smoke (75% agreement). This was consistent with the previous levels of agreement in November (74%), August (73%) and May (74%).
11. Support for the new law also remained consistent in the January 2006 survey. Over half of respondents stated that they supported the new law (61% in January 2006, 58% in November, 58% in August compared to 56% in May 2005). Support was attributed to a wide range of factors including the cleaner air / environment (15%) and disliking smoking (17%). Those who did not support the new law put forward a range of reasons including that they enjoyed smoking (15%) or felt the government should not be telling them what to do (12%).
12. The significant increase in support for the new law reported amongst smokers was maintained in the January 2006 survey with 26% of smokers supporting the law compared to 27% in November, 33% in August and 19% in May 2005. Ex-smokers also continued to express greater support for the new law (75% in January 2006, 73% in November, 76% in August and 64% in May 2005).
13. In each wave of research the respondents anticipated that the new legislation would impact on them in a range of ways. The more positive potential consequences of the new law included providing cleaner and safer environments for all and that it would be better for people's health and would help to make socialising more enjoyable. However, a smaller proportion continued to perceive that the new law would have 'no impact' on them (8% in January 2006, 7% in November compared with 41% in August 2005 and 21% in May 2005).
14. The proportion who felt that the new law would help them to stop smoking altogether has varied throughout the research and increased to 14% in January 2006 which is higher than November 2005 (7%), comparable with August 2005 (14%) and higher than May 2005 (6%). However, as in previous research, over half of current smokers (52%) felt that the new legislation would have no effect on the amount they smoke (62% in November, 56% in August and 57% in May 2005).
15. Even though awareness levels of recent advertising about health risks of passive smoking were again fairly mixed, spontaneous recall of any advertising increased slightly between November 2005 (52%) and January 2006 (57%) (compared to 55% in August and 48% in May 2005). Although many of those in the May 2005 omnibus who recalled seeing or hearing something could not elaborate beyond 'Scottish Executive ad on TV', a greater proportion of those recalling advertising in August recalled elements that reflected the content of a recent advertising campaign by NHS Health Scotland. A slightly smaller proportion of people in both the November 2005 and January 2006 also recalled elements that could be attributed to this advertising, as well as that of the current Clearing the Air campaign (communicating the date when the ban comes into force). As both campaigns communicate similar messages about the dangers of passive smoking or second-hand smoke it is possible that there is some degree of overlap of respondents' recall, particularly in the January 2006 survey because the Clearing the Air campaign has been running since late November 2005.
16. In the January 2006 omnibus respondents were also shown images taken from the current television campaign communicating the date when the ban will be introduced and were asked if they recalled seeing it. Over half said that they had (52%), with the main messages understood to be that 'passive smoking kills' (44%) and that 'passive smoking is not just a nuisance, it's a killer' (10%).