Poll: 70 percent of Indiana voters support smoking ban

(Indianapolis - WANE) A poll commissioned by the American Heart Association indicates 70 percent of Indiana voters support a ban on smoking workplaces, restaurants and bars.  The Indiana House is expected to take up legislation regarding a statewide ban later this week.

The poll of 500 registered voters from across the state found that only 27 percent of voters don't support a ban.

Poll findings were released Wednesday morning released by the Indiana Campaign for Smokefree Air, a coalition of health groups including the American Heart Association, American Lung Association and Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

The survey also found among Indiana voters:

• 85 percent believe that secondhand smoke is a health hazard, including 58 percent who say it is a serious health hazard.
• 71 percent believe the right of employees and customers to breathe clean air in restaurants and bars is more important than the right of smokers to smoke and businesses owners to allow smoking.
• 84 percent feel all workers should be protected from exposure to secondhand smoke in the workplace

Governor Daniels has made a statewide smoking ban one of his legislative priorities for 2012.

The statewide survey of 500 likely 2012 general election voters in Indiana was conducted by Public Opinion Strategies. The survey was conducted Jan. 21-23, 2012 and has an overall margin of error of +/- 4.38 percentage points.

Several municipalities, including Fort Wayne, have had workplace smoking bans in effect for years.

Some business owners oppose the ban, arguing that it should be up to them to decide what restrictions to apply.  Others argue that smoking in public should be an individual choice since the practice is legal.