Almost half of the country are unaware that England's smoking ban comes into force on July 1. 90% do know that a ban is coming in, however, just when when and to what it applies. I don't understand how 10% can not know that one is coming in, or how so many can know that a ban is coming in but not when. That's like knowing there is a speed limit on the road you're driving on, but not knowing what it is.

The government has launched a TV advert to try to educate people [watch here, courtesy of the BBC] showing a man walking through a variety of locations and describing how they will all have to be smoke free from July 1. I think it's rather a poor ad, but it may well do the job.

The ban is apparently supported by 87% of non-smokers and 44% of smokers (I'm not going to write about why I oppose the smoking ban, as I have written about that before: here, here, and here) and will cause 15% to go to the pub more often, and 7% less often, and make no difference to two thirds of the population. These percentages are hardly surprising, and had the legislation had a means by which some pubs could continue to be smoking pubs through the provision of extra ventilation and licensing I would have been amongst the 87% of non-smokers whoa re pro-ban.

I am sure that by the time the ban comes into effect, the vast majority will know that it is, and when, since it will fill the media in the run-up. Though I am also sure that there will be much confusion over precisely where the ban does and doesn't apply.

Source: BBC