Survey Says
URBAN LIFE WAVE 05 2009 HIGHLIGHTS
Here are the results from the fifth main Urban Life survey of 2009.
A big thank-you to all Urban Life members for your participation and enthusiasm in 2009. Your views and opinions were gratefully received and always welcome.
Voting intention
Conservatives are still leading the way when it comes to your intended vote in the next general election. Labour is gaining in popularity again slightly, whilst Liberal Democrats and the Greens have stagnated a little.
Should the smoking ban be extended?
In New York City, officials are considering a ban on smoking in parks and outside spaces. We asked if this policy should be enforced in the UK. Two thirds of you were keen for the current smoking ban to be extended to outdoor areas. 39% of you even say it should be extended to all public places.
Are we a tipple short of a topple?
An overwhelming 4 in 5 of Londoners among you think binge drinking in the capital is a problem. Here are a few of your ideas for tackling the issue:
"Limit the amount of alcohol being sold to any one individual in a venue. Yes, I know this means that you can do a pub crawl and get p****d, but at least this is a start."
"Alcoholic drinks are too cheap during Happy Hours (and too expensive outside of happy hours!), so more price control would be good. Supermarkets also sell very low prices of drinks when they have special offers - and other drinks at exorbitant prices when they are not - take the stigma out of drinking and you take away the appeal of bingeing on it."
"Anyone requiring medical attention as a result of binge drinking should be required to pay for the cost of their treatment. If they cause a fight they should automatically have to serve 24 hours community service in the area in which they caused the problem, wearing something like a bright blue jacket that lets everyone know they are binge drinking troublemakers."
Bad fats be warned!
Restaurants in New York have passed a law banning restaurants from using health-harming Trans fats in their cooking. 3 out of 4 of you Londoners are eager for restaurants in the UK to follow suit.
Britain's nuclear front
Almost half of you think that Britain's nuclear deterrent should be either reduced or scrapped completely. A further 40% back a reduction on the proviso that other countries agree to do the same.
The Recession
The consensus amongst Urban Lifers is that consumer confidence and activity in the housing market is improving. 4 in 10 even agree that we're over the worst of the recession, versus 3 in 10 who disagree. Conversely, an improvement in unemployment levels is not widely anticipated, and 4 in 10 think that Britain won't recover from the recession until 2011.
I'll have what you're having
Ambition is a defining quality in Urban Lifers. Having a successful job/career is the biggest priority in life for 2 in 3 of you. This scored even higher than relationships with friends and family, travelling the world and home ownership.
It helps that two thirds of you are happy with your current job. A quarter say your job is really good/your dream job, and only 6% say it's really bad/absolutely awful.
On the whole, you work in fast-paced, stressful, yet friendly and fun environments. What's more, good banter with your workmates appears to be indispensable - this is the top thing that has been 'keeping you going' at work recently.
In line with your ambitious nature, 6 in 10 of you are prepared to consistently work extra hours in order to get ahead in your career. Nevertheless, most of you claim to be happy with your current work/life balance. Some steps you take to get that balance right are...
"Work from home at least one day a week. I'm working from home right now as it goes! It's 2.22pm and I'm still in my jammies."
"Make sure I do things when I get home and spend quality time with my husband. I would rather go to work early and leave on time to achieve this."
"Leave my work at work, I don't take any work home or even think about my work while at home."
"Try to take walks at lunchtime."
"I make sure I don't let work take over my life by committing to regular hobbies and social meetings."
Furthering your education
28% of you have taken action to further your education in the last 12 months. A further 17% are planning to do so in the near future. Wanting to learn more and increasing your chances of getting another job are the main things motivating you to further your education.
Green
79% of your workplaces have recycle bins, 41% have a clear environmental policy and 28% have dedicated 'green champions'. Green credentials will not heavily influence your next choice of employer. 1 in 4 rate this as an important element of the decision.
What are your favourite adverts of all time?
The ads that were mentioned by the largest number of you were: