 1,000 people were asked their views on drinking and smoking |
More than 80% of people in Wales believe extended drinking hours have made no difference to them, a BBC opinion poll suggests. Of more than 1,000 people polled, 83% said the laws had not made them go out more or less often.
Police and a licencees association agreed that the new laws had made little difference in their first month.
The research also found that almost 60% of people supported a ban on smoking in public places in Wales.
Licence extension
In the opinion poll, carried out by ICM for the BBC Wales News website, more than 1,000 people across Wales were asked for their views on extended licensing hours and on smoking in public places.
 Lauren Bateman said public smoking should be banned |
New laws allowing pubs, clubs and shops in Wales and England to sell alcohol for longer if they had gained a licence to do so were introduced on 24 November.
Almost 5,000 licence extensions were granted in Wales. But just 60 premises, most of them supermarkets, were granted 24-hour licences.
The opinion poll found that overall:
83% said 24-hour drinking has made no difference to them.12% of people said the new laws had made them go out less often and 4% said they now went out more often.A majority (55%) opposes 24-hour licenses with 26% supporting them. Police forces in Wales and a representative of pub licensees organisation agreed with the poll and said the new laws had made little difference in their first month of operation.
 Elinor Phillips said new licensing laws had made little difference |
Ken Thompson, secretary and treasurer of the North Wales Licensed Victuallers' Association, told the BBC Wales News website: "It's made no difference from my point of view.
"I think the majority (of pubs) are only using a couple of extra hours a week.
"It's settled down a lot better than most people thought it would - there was concern over 24-hour drinking, but that only really applies to supermarkets and I think there's been no more rowdyism than before."
'Part of Europe'
A South Wales Police spokesman said: "It has been business as usual over the period since the extended licensing laws were introduced," while a spokesperson from the Gwent force said they had not experienced an increase in problems since the introduction of the new licensing laws.
 John Goodacre called for all public buildings to be no smoking |
Pub-goers questioned in Cardiff agreed that the law change had made little difference.
Steve Davies, 47, a construction worker from Barry said: "I like the idea of extra opening hours - we should be part of Europe.
"But it's made no difference - where I live opening hours still seem to be until 11pm.
"There isn't any extra public transport late in the evening, so it would be difficult to take advantage, even if there was later opening."
Elinor Phillips, 18, a student from Newport, added: "I haven't noticed any difference, although since the new laws came in I have seen people who have been refused service because they are too drunk.
"The new times are nice if you go out for a meal and you want a drink after 11pm - I think it's been brought in sensibly."
On a possible smoking ban in public places in Wales, the opinion poll found:
A majority (59%) supported a full smoking ban in all public places with 31% against.Support for a ban was strongest in the over 65 age group (63%) with opposition to a ban strongest in the 18-34 category (38%). Plans for a partial ban on smoking in workplaces in England and Wales by 2007 have been already been announced by the UK government.
'Health benefits'
But the Welsh assembly has been given the power to introduce its own ban and is likely to go further in implementing and outright ban in public places.
People questioned in pubs in Cardiff agreed there should be a comprehensive ban on smoking in public places.
Lauren Bateman, 23, from Neath, said: "I'm not a smoker myself but a lot of my friends are.
 Steve Davies agreed with extended pub licensing hours |
"I think a ban would help people give up smoking, but the main difference would be benefits for workers' health."
John Goodacre, 57, from Abergavenny, added: "I hate smoking so I think that there should be a ban.
"I work for an Irish company and it's wonderful when I go over there to be in a smokeless environment.
"All public buildings should be non-smoking. It's particularly dreadful when you're eating to have someone else's smoke forced on you."
1,055 people across Wales were quizzed in the phone poll by ICM in December.
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