Kate Moss Tops Poll Of Celebrities Most Recognised For Smoking

In a massive countrywide survey by leisure giant X-Leisure, Kate Moss topped the poll as the celebrity who was most recognised for smoking. Her on-off boy friend Pete Doherty was in second place with Britney Spears a close third. Members of the public also named these three as particularly bad role models for smoking.

Both smokers and non smokers polled showed near unanimous support for the government’s total ban on smoking indoors from July 1st. 84% stated that the new legislation will be a good thing, with almost as many suggesting a fine of over £50 for anyone who violates the ban.

X-Leisure, the UK’s premiere indoor leisure operator, which has 20 venues throughout the UK with over 50 million visitors per year, conducted the nationwide smoking survey over several days with 1,500 respondents at their venues.

PY Gerbeau (CEO of X-Leisure) personally commissioned the survey, and has promoted his venues as safe, secure and healthy environments for visitors. Recently voted the Global Leisure Operator of the Year at the Global Retail Leisure Awards, X-Leisure is committed to providing a safe and secure family environment in each of its destinations. The company has already enforced the ban as it has 3 venues in Scotland which stopped indoor smoking in March 2006.

Over 1500 people were surveyed over the age of 16. Findings include:

- 84% in England think the indoor smoking ban is a good thing
- 73% of all respondents in England & Scotland said they wanted the legal age for smoking to be raised to 18 years
- 67% of smokers think that the ban is symptomatic of a ‘nanny state’ culture. Paradoxically, 91% of smokers surveyed answered that non smokers have a right to be in a smoke-free environment
- 79% of all people surveyed stated that anyone who violated the smoking ban should be fined with almost half of all respondents feeling that a fine of over £50 would be justified
- In Scotland, 67% of non-smokers surveyed said they go to public indoor places more now they are smoke-free
- In Scotland, 70% of non-smokers surveyed think the ban has helped people give up while, 88% of smokers surveyed who have wanted to give up, said the smoking ban didn’t help them

PY Gerbeau commented on the initial results of the survey: “We welcome the smoking ban and the survey shows that a very high proportion of our visitors will do too. We want to ensure our visitors have a positive experience whether enjoying the sporting activities or eating at a restaurant and passive smoking especially when children are involved cannot be healthy.

“Cinemas have had a total ban for some time and our 3 Scottish venues have had the ban for over a year and these businesses went through an initial adjustment period but visitor numbers do come back and ultimately people want to go out and enjoy the facilities together in a pleasant and healthy environment.”

He concluded “in the short term there may be some business trade that will suffer, but we are working with them to look at designated external smoking areas where possible.”

X-Leisure’s venues include the Xscape destinations in Milton Keynes, Braehead/Glasgow and Castleford/Leeds, plus the O2 Centre in Finchley Road, Swiss Cottage, London, Five Ways Birmingham and the Brighton Marina.

Visit X-leisure.co.uk for more information.