Customers and businesses to share the gains, research finds

A three-month public consultation on the total smoking ban in restaurants ended last September. More than 10,000 submissions were received and 98 per cent of them expressed support for the ban.

Three separate opinion polls were conducted after the consultation and the results were compared with the claims made by the catering trade.

The findings were:

74.7 per cent of people surveyed opted for smoke-free restaurants and 12 per cent for smoking to be allowed;

On average restaurants would see a five per cent net growth in business if a ban was implemented;

Restaurants would realise a $4 billion increase in annual revenue;