SMSU survey shows support for smoking ban

A survey of registered voters in Springfield shows that more than half of respondents _strongly favored_ a ban on public smoking in general, according to a news release from Southwest Missouri State University.

The survey was conducted by Gary Brinker_s Social Problems class at SMSU.

According to Brinker, an associate professor of sociology and anthropology, the survey was designed to offer practical experience for the students, as well as provide information to help legislators write informed policy proposals that reflect the health interests and preferences of Springfield voters.

Survey stats

Brinker_s students conducted phone interviews with 500 randomly selected registered Springfield voters Sept. 15-20.

Asked if they favor or oppose a ban on smoking in public, 54 percent said they _strongly favor_ a ban and 12 percent _somewhat favor_ it. On the other hand, 24 percent of respondents _strongly oppose_ a ban, and another 10 percent _somewhat oppose_ it.

In terms of smoking in specific locations, respondents were strongly supportive of banning smoking in the workplace and restaurants, but not as supportive of banning it in bingo halls, bowling alleys or bars.

While 59 percent said they _strongly favor_ a ban in the workplace and 54 percent _strongly favor_ a ban in restaurants, that number dropped to 48 percent for bingo halls, 46 percent for bowling alleys and 35 percent for bars.

Second-hand smoke

The survey showed that the majority of respondents _ 57 percent _ considered second-hand smoke a _serious health hazard,_ compared to 34 percent who consider it a _moderate health hazard_ and 9 percent who say it is _not a health hazard._

While 50 percent of respondents said second-hand smoke bothered them _a lot,_ 18 percent said it bothers them _a fair amount,_ 13 percent _only a little,_ and 17 percent _not at all._

_This data should be very representative of voters,_ Brinker said, adding that what voters think and what the overall Springfield population thinks may be two different things.

_The demographics of voters are different than the demographics of the general population, suggesting that they may have different opinions about a ban on public smoking,_ Brinker added.

The survey was funded in part by the Missouri Partnership on Smoking or Health, a tobacco-use prevention organization comprised of local, regional and statewide health, mental health, nonprofit and minority organizations, as well as physicians and individuals interested in reducing the toll of tobacco use in Missouri.