GALLUP NEWS SERVICE
PRINCETON, NJ -- It was not long ago that the vast majority of Americans told Gallup they would prefer to see restaurants set aside designated areas for smoking or allow smoking more generally, rather than ban the activity altogether in their establishments. Attitudes have slowly but steadily shifted on this issue over the past decade. Today, according to a Gallup survey conducted November 13-15, close to half of Americans, 47%, say they favor a complete ban on smoking in restaurants. That figure is up from 40% last year and from 17% in 1987, the year Gallup first measured this issue. Over the same time period, the percentage of American adults who smoke cigarettes has changed relatively little. Today, 25% of U.S. adults indicate they are smokers. This is similar to the rate Gallup has found since 1990, although down somewhat from the 30% recorded in 1987.
While Americans are growing increasingly intolerant of smoking in restaurants, a solid majority still favors the preservation of smoking areas in the workplace as well as in hotels and motels. Today, 72% believe smoking should be allowed in hotels and motels, either with no restrictions or in special smoking areas. Slightly fewer, 63%, believe smoking should be allowed in workplaces. By contrast, a bare majority, 53% now believe smoking should be allowed in restaurants. Support for a smoking ban in motels and the workplace has increased, but not as sharply as that seen for smoking in restaurants. Just over one-third of Americans (37%) now favor a total ban on smoking in the workplace, up from 34% last year and 17% in 1987. Support for a ban on smoking in hotels and motels is lower -- currently 28%, up from 24% last year and 10% in 1987.
The new poll shows an increase in the number of smokers and non-smokers who support a ban on smoking in restaurants. For the first time, the poll shows that a majority of non-smokers (54%) believe smoking should be prohibited in restaurants, up from 49% last year. Only 26% of smokers currently believe their habit should be banned in restaurants, but that is still higher than last year's 18% figure. Most smokers (65%) think restaurants should create special smoking areas.
Most Smokers Regret They Ever Started
Not only is the public growing more intolerant of smoking, but
smokers seem to be more critical of their own habit as well. More
than four in five smokers, 82%, now say they would like to give up
smoking, compared to 74% who felt this way in 1997 and only 66% who
felt this way when Gallup first asked the question in 1977. There
has also been a growing sense among smokers that they are
"addicted" to cigarettes. Nearly three-quarters of smokers (74%)
feel this way today compared with just 61% in 1990. Over the same
time period, the percent saying they would not smoke if they had to
do it all over again has remained high. Today, 88% say they would
not smoke if they could make the decision all over again.
Whether the poll data reveal a real reduction in smoking, or merely reluctance by smokers to report heavy smoking, smokers are now reporting lighter smoking than in the past. Sixty-two percent of smokers currently tell Gallup that they smoke less than a pack a day, compared to just 55% who reported this lighter rate of smoking in 1999. Prior to 1999, Gallup polling generally found a majority of smokers using a pack or more of cigarettes per day.
Rate of Smoking is Stable
The U.S. Surgeon General has set a goal for reducing the rate of
adult smoking in the United States to 12% by the year 2010. Given
the stable 25% smoking rate over the last ten years, it seems
unlikely the goal of 12% can be reached that quickly. Today, 25% of
Americans tell Gallup that they have smoked cigarettes within the
past week, similar to the 27% recorded in 1989. And despite
continued efforts by the Surgeon General and others to reduce
smoking among teens, Gallup trends suggest there has been no major
reduction in the rate of smoking among young adults. As shown
below, the percentage of Americans of various age groups who smoke
has been quite stable over the past decade.
|
Percent Who Smoked Cigarettes in Past Week
|
||||
|
18-29 |
30-49 |
50-64 |
65+ |
|
|
2000 |
30% |
26 |
29 |
15 |
|
1989 |
28% |
30 |
31 |
16 |
Long-term, however, smoking has declined in this country. The percentage of adult smokers ranged from 30% to 38% during the 1980s and was 40% or more in the three decades from 1944 through 1974. The high point of smoking was recorded in 1954 when 45% of adults told Gallup they smoked cigarettes.
Smokers Mostly Blamed for Own Health Problems
The presidential election has pushed news of tobacco litigation off
the front pages in recent months. Nevertheless, public attitudes
about who is to blame for the health problems faced by smokers in
this country has changed little over the past year, with a majority
of Americans saying that smokers -- rather than the tobacco
companies -- are primarily responsible. More than a quarter of
Americans, 27%, believe smokers are completely to blame for their
own smoking-related health problems and another 35% think they are
mostly blame. By contrast, only 6% of Americans blame tobacco
companies entirely for the problem, while 23% think they are mostly
to blame. This is largely consistent with Gallup trends on this
subject dating back to 1997.
Survey Methods
The results below are based on telephone interviews with a randomly selected national sample of 1,028 adults, 18 years and older, conducted November 13-15, 2000. For results based on this sample, one can say with 95 percent confidence that the maximum error attributable to sampling and other random effects is plus or minus 3 percentage points. In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.
Have you, yourself, smoked any cigarettes in the past week?
|
Yes |
No |
|
|
% |
% |
|
|
2000 Nov 13-15 |
25 |
75 |
|
1999 Sep 23-26 |
23 |
77 |
|
1998 Jun 22-23 |
28 |
72 |
|
1997 Sep 25-28 |
26 |
74 |
|
1997 Jun 26-29 |
26 |
74 |
|
1997 Jun 23-24 |
26 |
74 |
|
1997 May 6-7 |
25 |
75 |
|
1997 Mar 24-26 |
27 |
73 |
|
1996 |
27 |
73 |
|
1994 |
27 |
73 |
|
1991 |
28 |
72 |
|
1990 |
27 |
73 |
|
1989 |
27 |
73 |
|
1988 |
32 |
68 |
|
1987 |
30 |
70 |
|
1986 |
31 |
69 |
|
1985 |
35 |
65 |
|
1983 |
38 |
62 |
|
1981 |
35 |
65 |
|
1978 |
36 |
64 |
|
1977 |
38 |
62 |
|
1974 |
40 |
60 |
|
1972 |
43 |
57 |
|
1971 |
42 |
58 |
|
1969 |
40 |
60 |
|
1957 |
42 |
58 |
|
1954 |
45 |
55 |
|
1949 |
44 |
56 |
|
1944 |
41 |
59 |
About how many cigarettes do you smoke each day?
BASED ON -- 239 -- SMOKERS; ±7 PERCENTAGE POINTS
|
Less than |
One |
More than |
No |
Mean |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
||
|
2000 Nov 13-15 |
62 |
29 |
9 |
0 |
15 |
|
1999 Sep 23-26 |
55 |
35 |
9 |
1 |
14 |
|
1997 Jun 26-29 |
48 |
32 |
19 |
1 |
-- |
|
1997 Jun 23-24 |
48 |
30 |
21 |
1 |
-- |
|
1996 |
43 |
38 |
16 |
3 |
-- |
|
1994 |
44 |
38 |
18 |
0 |
-- |
|
1991 |
48 |
34 |
17 |
1 |
-- |
|
1990 |
51 |
32 |
14 |
3 |
-- |
|
1989 |
39 |
39 |
20 |
2 |
-- |
|
1988 |
40 |
38 |
20 |
2 |
-- |
|
1987 |
48 |
32 |
18 |
2 |
-- |
|
1981 |
38 |
37 |
24 |
1 |
-- |
|
1977 |
41 |
31 |
27 |
1 |
-- |
At what age did you begin smoking?
BASED ON -- 239 -- SMOKERS; ±7 PERCENTAGE POINTS
|
Under 16 |
16-18 |
Over 18 |
No opinion |
Mean Age |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
||
|
2000 Nov 13-15 |
37 |
39 |
21 |
3 |
17 |
|
1999 Sep 23-26 |
36 |
35 |
29 |
* |
18 |
|
1994 Mar 11-13 |
32 |
37 |
29 |
2 |
-- |
|
1991 Nov |
34 |
36 |
29 |
1 |
-- |
All things considered, would you like to give up smoking, or not?
BASED ON -- 239 -- SMOKERS; ±7 PERCENTAGE POINTS
|
Yes |
No |
No opinion |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2000 Nov 13-15 |
82 |
16 |
2 |
|
1999 Sep 23-26 |
76 |
23 |
1 |
|
1997 Jun 26-29 |
74 |
24 |
2 |
|
1997 Jun 23-24 |
64 |
34 |
2 |
|
1996 |
73 |
26 |
1 |
|
1994 |
70 |
28 |
2 |
|
1991 |
76 |
22 |
2 |
|
1990 |
74 |
24 |
2 |
|
1989 |
63 |
33 |
4 |
|
1988 |
68 |
27 |
5 |
|
1987 |
77 |
20 |
3 |
|
1986 |
75 |
22 |
3 |
|
1981 |
66 |
30 |
4 |
|
1977 |
66 |
29 |
5 |
Do you consider yourself addicted to cigarettes or not?
BASED ON -- 239 -- SMOKERS; ±7 PERCENTAGE POINTS
|
Yes, addicted |
No, not |
No opinion |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2000 Nov 13-15 |
74 |
26 |
0 |
|
1999 Sep 23-26 |
72 |
28 |
* |
|
1997 Jun 26-29 |
73 |
27 |
* |
|
1997 Jun 23-24 |
68 |
31 |
1 |
|
1996 |
69 |
31 |
0 |
|
1991 |
70 |
29 |
1 |
|
1990 |
61 |
39 |
* |
If you had to do it over again, would you start smoking, or not?
BASED ON -- 239 -- SMOKERS; ±7 PERCENTAGE POINTS
|
Yes |
No |
No opinion |
|
|
2000 Nov 13-15 |
12% |
88 |
0 |
|
1999 Sep 23-26 |
13% |
85 |
2 |
|
1990 Jul 6-8 |
13% |
83 |
4 |
What is your opinion regarding smoking in public places? First, in [ROTATED] -- should they SET ASIDE certain areas, should they totally BAN smoking, or should there be NO RESTRICTIONS on smoking? How about in . . .
A. Hotels and motels
|
No restrictions |
Set aside areas |
Totally ban |
No opinion |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2000 Nov 13-15 |
7 |
65 |
28 |
* |
|
1999 Sep 23-26 |
6 |
70 |
24 |
* |
|
1994 |
10 |
68 |
20 |
2 |
|
1991 |
12 |
70 |
17 |
1 |
|
1990 |
8 |
73 |
18 |
1 |
|
1987 |
20 |
67 |
10 |
3 |
B. Workplaces
|
No restrictions |
Set aside areas |
Totally ban |
No opinion |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2000 Nov 13-15 |
6 |
57 |
37 |
* |
|
1999 Sep 23-26 |
4 |
61 |
34 |
1 |
|
1994 |
4 |
63 |
32 |
1 |
|
1991 |
8 |
67 |
24 |
1 |
|
1990 |
5 |
69 |
25 |
1 |
|
1987 |
11 |
70 |
17 |
2 |
C. Restaurants
|
No restrictions |
Set aside areas |
Totally ban |
No opinion |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2000 Nov 13-15 |
5 |
48 |
47 |
* |
|
1999 Sep 23-26 |
4 |
56 |
40 |
* |
|
1994 |
4 |
57 |
38 |
1 |
|
1991 |
5 |
66 |
28 |
1 |
|
1990 |
4 |
66 |
30 |
-- |
|
1987 |
8 |
74 |
17 |
1 |
Which of the following statements best describes your view of who's to blame for the health problems faced by smokers in this country? [ROTATE 1-4/4-1: 1) The tobacco companies are completely to blame, 2) The tobacco companies are mostly to blame, 3) Smokers are mostly to blame, 4) Smokers are completely to blame]?
|
Companies completely to blame |
Companies mostly to blame |
EQUALLY TO BLAME (vol.) |
Smokers mostly to blame |
Smokers completely to blame |
No |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2000 Nov 13-15 |
6 |
23 |
8 |
35 |
27 |
1 |
|
2000 Jul 14-16 |
6 |
20 |
14 |
29 |
30 |
1 |
|
1999 Sep 23-26 |
9 |
21 |
13 |
31 |
24 |
2 |
|
1997 May 6-7 |
5 |
20 |
10 |
38 |
26 |
1 |
Has smoking ever been a cause of serious health problems in your family?
|
|
Yes |
No |
No opinion |
|
2000 Nov 13-15 |
40% |
59 |
1 |
|
1999 Sep 23-26 |
45% |
54 |
1 |
*Less than 0.5%
