Not another smoking survey! Healthy public policy and the need for local information

Abstract

The development and implementation of healthy public policy has been a central concern of health promotion. The following paper details a study examining local opinion concerning the implementation of national guidelines into local policy regarding banning smoking in enclosed public places following the publication of the UK government's Public Health white paper. The aim of the study was to determine public opinion regarding the acceptability of banning smoking in public areas and the views of major stakeholders in the region. A public opinion survey was conducted with 859 people and semi-structured telephone interviews were held with 32 stakeholders. The study found that there was consistent support, amongst both the general public and the stakeholders, for banning smoking in public places. It also determined that stakeholders found the proposals of the Public Health white paper unclear and therefore difficult to implement. The paper concludes that a variety of support is needed for local policy implementation and makes suggestions for doing so, locating ideas within the literature.