Britons want national smoking ban - poll

Nearly seven out of 10 Britons want to see smoking banned in restaurants, pubs and offices, according to a poll published on Tuesday.

Sixty-six percent of respondents to the ICM poll, commissioned by the Guardian newspaper, said they would support a national ban on smoking in all enclosed public places.

The government is poised to introduce controls but has been keen to avoid being accused of engineering a "nanny state."

Yet 61 percent of those questioned said the government was justified in regulating "for the benefit of others" the country's drinking, smoking and gambling habits. Thirty-five percent said they opposed such government interference.

In March, Ireland became the first country to ban smoking in restaurants and pubs. Since then several countries, including Norway and Malta, have instituted similar bans.

The ICM poll also showed 57 percent of people support the government's plans to allow pubs and clubs more flexible closing times.

Ministers say relaxed drinking laws will reduce the amount of brawling and other anti-social behavior by preventing nightspots from emptying at the same time.

However, police have warned permitting places to open 24 hours a day could spark a rise in violent crime.

When it comes to gambling, the survey found that more than half of respondents (53 percent) do not support the government's plans to allow the creation of new Las Vegas-style casinos in the country.

Prime Minister Tony Blair on Monday backed proposals to deregulate Britain's 40-year-old gambling laws as experts warned the action could lead to a doubling of the country's approximately 300,000 addicted gamblers.

Seventy-three percent of respondents said they had cast a bet in the past year on activities ranging from the lottery (66 percent) to slot machines (16 percent).

ICM conducted a telephone poll of 1,001 adults across the country between October 22 and 24.