A majority of restaurant customers and workers support the
establishment of no smoking areas, according to a survey.
The study, conducted by the Shanghai Patriotic Health Campaign
Committee and Fudan University's Public Health College, covered 33
restaurants.
More than 82 percent of the 284 customers surveyed, said they
hoped restaurants would ban smoking or set up no smoking areas.
Of 242 waiters and waitresses surveyed, 75 percent said they
would be in favor of control policies.
Zheng Pinpin, a member of the survey team, said most restaurant
workers complained of being subjected to secondhand smoke.
The survey showed more than 90 percent suffered from passive
smoke during work.
"More than 60 percent of the workers received complaints from
customers about passive smoke, but very few said they would stop
customers from smoking," Zhang said.
About 70 percent of restaurant owners and managers said they
would support smoke control policies, and 6.5 percent would
not.
However, several managers said business could be affected if
customers were not allowed to smoke.
Li Guangyao, division chief of Shanghai Patriotic Health
Campaign Committee, said: "The main reason we conducted the survey
was to dispel mangers' fears of losing customers due to no smoking
campaigns."
He said some restaurant customers who smoked, supported a ban on
smoking in public places.
A member of the Shanghai Food and Beverage Association who
identified himself as a Mr Wang, said: "It is a universal trend to
set up no smoking areas in public places. However, it will take a
long time for restaurants to do so."
He said big restaurants and bars have the space to establish no
smoking areas, but not the smaller ones.
Of the restaurants surveyed, only two ban smoking and eight have
no smoking areas.
Hu Wei, owner of a small restaurant on East Nanjing Road, said:
"I was a smoker but after my wife got pregnant, I quit.
"I think setting up no smoking areas is a good thing, especially
for pregnant women and children."
The Shanghai Patriotic Health Campaign Committee said it will
launch a campaign to encourage restaurants and bars, especially
along East Nanjing Road, to set up no smoking areas or ban
smoking.
(China Daily June 1, 2007)