Interestingly, even 18% of those who currently smoke think their habit should be illegal. Thirty percent (30%) of those who have never smoked agree.

But Americans are inclined to think that government pressure won't change smokers' habits. Forty-five percent (45%) say more government regulation of tobacco is at least somewhat likely to reduce the number of smokers, but 51% think that's unlikely. These findings include 17% who say the increased regulation is Very Likely to cut down on the number of smokers and 15% who say it is Not At All Likely to do so.

These numbers, too, are virtually unchanged from a survey a year ago. Smokers themselves tend slightly more than non-smokers to think government regulation will make a difference.

This nationwide survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on June 22-23, 2010 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Forty-three percent (43%) of smokers say they are at least somewhat likely to quit if taxes are raised even more on a pack of cigarettes, with 16% who say they are Very Likely to quit. However, 54% say higher cigarette taxes are unlikely to make them drop the habit, including 24% who say they are Not At All Likely to quit.

Republicans and adults not affiliated with either major party strongly oppose the outlawing of smoking. Democrats are more closely divided.

Eighty-one percent (81%) of all Adults say, generally speaking, that smokers are aware of the health dangers involved with their habit, a view shared by only 77% of those who currently smoke. Eighty-seven percent (87%) of those who once smoked but have since quit agree that smokers are aware of the risk.

This finding is roughly consistent with previous surveys and helps explain why 71% of U.S. voters say tobacco companies should not be held liable for health problems that current smokers develop.

An increasing number of states have banned smoking in public places like bars and restaurants, and 62% think that's a good idea.  But 51% of Americans oppose a ban on smoking in all public open air spaces, such as beaches and parks.

But Americans are evenly divided over whether smokers are being discriminated against with the taxes on cigarettes, but 56% oppose similar "sin taxes" on junk food and non-diet soft drinks.

(The FINANCIAL, 29/06/2010)