Yesterday I linked to the 'IEA Lifestyle Poll' whose headline figures were reported by the Daily Mail and Daily Express and are recorded on the ComRes website as follows:

A new poll for the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) conducted by ComRes finds significant opposition to sin taxes and majority agreement that the government should not interfere in individuals’ lifestyle choices.

Seven in ten (70%) British adults say it should be the individual’s responsibility to make their own lifestyle choices and the government should not interfere. Looking at those expressing a preference, this figure rises to over 80%.

Half of Britons (51%) believe indirect taxes are too high, this rises to seven in ten (69%) among only those who declared a preference. Eight in ten (78%) giving an opinion believe they hit the poorest the hardest.

A majority of Britons believe the government should not offer financial incentives to people who are trying to lose weight (61%), stop smoking (60%) or stop drinking excessively (62%).

Ukip voters are the most hostile to government intervention on lifestyle choices across the board.

I've now had a chance to read the survey results in full and I'm amazed no-one has highlighted what, to me, is the most interesting result.

Asked to agree or disagree with the statement, 'Owners of pubs and private members clubs should be allowed to have a private room for people to smoke in if they want to', the 4135 respondents reacted as follows:

51% agree
35% disagree
13% don't know

Interestingly there is very little difference between men and women:

53% of men, 50% of women agreed
35% of men, 36% of women disagreed
12% of men, 15% of women don't know

There's a modest difference between age groups but those who agree that 'pubs and private members clubs should be allowed to have a private room for people to smoke in if they want to' outnumber those who disagree in every age group bar none:

18-24: 40% agree, 31% disagree, 29% don't know
25-34: 54% agree, 31% disagree, 15% don't know
35-44: 52% agree, 32% disagree, 16% don't know
45-54: 55% agree, 36% disagree, 9% don't know
55-64: 57% agree, 35% disagree, 8% don't know
65+: 48% agree, 44% disagree, 9% don't know

I've no idea why this hasn't been publicised because the information is in the public domain. (You'll find it on the ComRes website here, Table 4.)

Spread the word!