Manitobans want more smoke-free outdoor public places

Manitoba is clamping down on smoking in some public places but many people feel it doesn't go far enough.

According to the Manitoba Tobacco Reduction Alliance (MANTRA), which released results Friday from a recent survey,67 per cent of Manitobanssupport extending the banto outdoor patios of restaurants and bars.

That's an increase from 58 per centin 2008.And 59 per cent don't want puffing at any outdoor public events, such as festivals.

Starting this year,anyone who lights up at beaches and playgrounds inprovincial parks will be slapped with a $300 fine.

• Manitoba bans smoking in park beaches, playgrounds

The majority of Manitobans want that extendedto all beaches (65 per cent), public parks and green spaces (61 per cent), not just the provincial ones, according to the MANTRA survey results.

"Public smoking bans are not just about protecting people from SHS [second-hand smoke].About threein fourManitoba smokers would like to quit and one effective way of supporting their quit attempts is to increase smoking bans in outdoor public places," states a news release from MANTRA.

"Research shows that when smoking bans are implemented, many smokers choose to quit or cut back."

The poll was conducted by Prairie Research Associates in September 2013. InManitoba, 800 residents, 18 years of age or older,were interviewed by telephone.

The margin of error is plus-or-minus3.5 per cent,19 times out of 20.