Survey shows majority of smokers favor ban

AUGUSTA – A majority of smokers support Maine’s smoking ban in bars, lounges and pool halls, according to a new survey.

A poll commissioned by the Maine Coalition on Smoking or Health shows that 54 percent of Maine residents who smoke support the ban, up from 40 percent who favored it when the law went into effect Jan. 1. Among all respondents, 76 percent said they favor the smoking ban, up from 71 percent last December.

Carol Kelly, director of the Augusta-based coalition, said she was particularly heartened by the number of smokers who support the law.

The Sept. 23 telephone survey of 600 Mainers was conducted by Critical Insights polling firm in Portland and has a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points.

The coalition has more than 50 members, including the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association of Maine, Consumers for Affordable Health Care, Maine Hospital Association and Medical Care Development.