Exploring smokers' opposition to proposed tobacco control strategies

Abstract

BACKGROUND -Tobacco control (TC) advocates are searching for new TC strategies to decrease smoking rates further. AIMS -The aim of this study is to explore smokers' opposition to 16 TC strategies, including the attitudes in the sample as a whole. The results are discussed in relation to the importance of public versus smoker support, and the need for legitimate TC strategies. METH-ODS -An Internet panel with 35,000 registered users was accessed to invite participants to join a survey on attitudes towards TC strategies. In addition, 1253 participants were recruited directly from mobile phone lists. Of the 5543 participants recruited, 5250 adults aged 20 years or older were eligible for analysis. Respondents' attitudes were measured on a five-point Likert scale, and mean values, standard deviations and percentages of those who opposed TC regulations were reported. RESULTS -In the total sample, there was some support for regulating smoking in specific outdoors areas. Smokers opposed all of the proposed strategies except banning smoking in cars carrying children, increasing the age limit for purchasing cigarettes and banning smoking at transportation stops. Smokers seemed to accept regulations that protected others from the health risks of smoking, but defended their right to smoke in some specific outdoor areas. CONCLU-SIONS -Smokers opposed most of the proposed TC strategies. Smokers' support may be more important in TC areas that aim to denormalise smoking and where enforcement is more complex.

Social climate on tobacco control in an advanced tobacco control country

“…In Denmark, policy attitudes have changed since the policies were implemented (Lykke, Helbech, & Glümer, 2014), and a large proportion of citizens are ready for more stringent tobacco control policy in terms of future bans on smoking and tax increases (Lykke, Pisinger, & Glümer, 2016). In Norway, compared to daily smokers, non-smokers have more positive attitudes towards new tobacco control measures such as banning smoking in specific outdoor settings and raising the age limit for purchasing cigarettes (Lund, 2016). Finnish studies examining social acceptance of tobacco control policies have not been published.…”

Public Support for Tobacco Endgame Policies: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

“…In countries with endgame goals, smoking prevalence is low,[73] and people who smoke make up a minority with a weak public voice. [74 75] However, because people who smoke would be most affected by the implementation of endgame policies, priority policies and implementation plans should be accompanied by investigation of their views to facilitate and enhance implementation and effectiveness.…”

In favour of tobacco control? Former smokers’ support for tobacco policies

“…The negative effects on health due to passive smoking indoors has been known since the 1980s, but it is a challenge to make bans like smoking at outdoor platforms/bus stops and at outdoor seating defensible without basing such bans on scientific arguments concerning health risks to others ( Sohlberg, 2016 ). Also, it has been pointed out that convincing smokers to regulate their behaviour based on research pertaining to health consequences seems easier than attempts to convince them based on denormalisation approaches ( Lund, 2016 ). This is when the role-model argument becomes relevant: reducing opportunities for people to observe smoking in public spaces should lead to smoking no longer being perceived as a normal behaviour ( Collins & Procter, 2011 ).…”

“…In a democracy the public must be kept informed and public policies should be approved by the people, since the people are the ultimate source of power (American Historical Association, 2018). However, smoking in Sweden is declining and, as stated in a study from Norway, smokers are becoming a minority group with a diminishing public voice, meaning that public support is almost equivalent with non-smokers opinions (Lund, 2016). But as new categories with different experiences of tobacco use or of other forms of nicotine emerge, it is of interest to take the perspective of these groups into account.…”

“…When it comes to public opinion on tobacco control, certain municipalities have conducted surveys, but as national polls on the matter are rarely carried out, gaining an overview of public attitudes is quite hard to achieve. There are some data to support the claim that smokers in Sweden have a more negative attitude than non-smokers towards certain tobacco control policies ( Swedish Cancer Society, 2016 ; as well as a number of international studies: Ashley et al, 2000 ; Lazarus et al, 2009 ; Lund, 2016 ). Former smokers have also been found to be generally more supportive of tobacco control policies than current smokers ( Schumann et al, 2006 ).…”