 EIGHTY per cent of people want to ban smoking in all public places in the North West, a survey has revealed. In one of the most extensive public health consultations ever carried out, 78% of people said they wanted non-smoking restaurants and more than half of the people questioned said they approve of smoke-free bars. The Big Smoke Debate was carried out in conjunction with the North West Public Health Group and the Centre for Public Health at Liverpool John Moores University. More than 14,000 people - both smokers and non-smokers - were interviewed in the survey. The findings revealed that 72% of people prefer non-smoking restaurants, and 57% agree with New York-style smoke-free bars. Earlier this year, Liverpool City Council revealed plans to create the UK's first "smoke-free" city, with smoking outlawed in public places. Mike Unger, chief executive of the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, said: "These results reflect a growing trend in the amount of people who want to ban smoking in public places. "Liverpool has the highest incidence of lung cancer in the country and new regulation may help to reduce the number of cases." Four out of every five people questioned said they are bothered by tobacco smoke and only 6% of people agreed with smoking in pubs and bars. Brenda Fullard, regional tobacco policy manager, said: "The right to enjoy clean air, free of tobacco smoke pollution has been denied to the vast majority of people in this region. "Now the Big Smoke Debate has shown the strength of support for smoke-free work and public places in the North West. All confirm the strength of opinion for a smoke-free society." Bar owner Rob Guttman, who runs Pan American, Blue and Baby Blue in Liverpool's Albert Dock, says he does not want to enforce a ban at his premises. He said: "A blanket ban is an infringement of civil liberties. "There are plenty of nonsmoking environments that people can choose to go to if they want, but in a bar atmosphere, smoking should be allowed." | 
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