Health Promotion International, Vol. 8, No. 4, 275-280, 1993
© Oxford University Press 1993
research-article |
Consumer choice and Ireland's tobacco regulations: do restaurateurs meet their client's needs?
University College Galway, Republic of Ireland Department of Health Promotion, University College Galway, Republic of Ireland Marketing Department, University College Galway, Republic of Ireland
Address for correspondence: Address for correspondence: Maeve McArdle, 31a Fr Murray Park, Dundalk, Co. Louth, Republic of Ireland
The Tobacco (Health Promotion and Protection) Act 1988 of the Republic of Ireland and its subsequent regulations restrict the consumption of tobacco products in certain designated public places. These restrictions include restaurants and public eating places and specify that each should provide a no smoking section for their non-smoking patrons.
This study was designed to establish whether a mismatch exists between what the restaurants offer and what the consumer wants. A telephone survey was conducted of all the listed retail food premises in Galway City in the West of Ireland Participation were 80%. Twenty-nine per cent of these provide no smoke free section at all, 68% allocate 50% of restaurant floor space to these clients. Effects on business either way were perceived as minimal, 71% saying that these regulations had no effect at all. The restaurateurs had no perception of a positive benefit associated with compliance with the regulations and most did not know what percentage of the population smoked, giving a significant over-estimation.
On the other hand, a survey sample of 100 members of the general public which was carried out at the same time, revealed that the majority of these were aware of the regulations and were willing to comply with them, whether smokers or not. The sample of smokers (35%) and non-smokers (65%) gave their views on the accommodation provided by the restaurants, their attitudes on smoking and health and the regulations. The evidence from this part of the study implied a potential marketing benefit to Restaurateurs in implementing the legislation.
The survey identified a possible mismatch in views between the restaurateurs and their clients in regard to the regulations.
Key words: smoking; regulations; restaurants
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