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

Abstract

Background: Tobacco control (TC) in Sweden is being continuously strengthened. Aims: The study aimed to examine attitudes towards different TC policies among former smokers, the difference between nicotine-free former smokers and those who use nicotine in the form of snus or nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs), and whether different TC strategies tend to become more acceptable over time. Methods: Respondents are part of a seven-year follow-up of former smokers in Sweden. Initially, 1400 respondents were contacted regarding participation and 705 answered a survey (response rate 50%). The present study used cross-sectional data on attitudes towards different TC policies and respondent’s level of support were measured on a 4-point scale. Analyses consist of percentage distribution of level of agreement, in total and between nicotine-free individuals and users of nicotine in the form of snus or NRTs, as well as logistic regressions in order to predict the odds for supporting the different policies. In addition, a percentage distribution of support for different policies introduced during different time-periods is shown. Results: There is an overall support for smoke-free environments. Nicotine users are, however, overall slightly more opposed, especially to policies aiming at denormalising smoking. Public support is important for successful implementation but resistance can pass, and interventions tend to become more acceptable over time. Conclusion: While smoke-free indoor environments can be justified by scientific evidence of harm to others, bans against smoking outdoors might be experienced as intrusive. Policies need to rest on scientific arguments and be seen as appropriate actions, underlining the importance of information for successful implementations.

Sales of cigarettes to pseudo-underage mystery shoppers: Experiences from Stockholm County

“…The municipal licensing board had to conduct inspections to verify whether these outlets complied with the Tobacco Act (1993:581) with respect to advertisement, warning texts on cigarette packets and tobacco products age limit signs. Furthermore, reduced smoking rates and a denormalisation of smoking could potentially have been caused by smoking bans in bars and restaurants (in 2005), the requirement for warning texts and illustrations on tobacco products, the higher prices of cigarettes, and a reduced retail outlet density per capita for tobacco products ( Sohlberg, 2019 ). Moreover, since the new Law on tobacco and similar products (2018:2088) was introduced in 2019, retailers need to apply for a tobacco selling license, and smoking has been prohibited in public outdoor places, which might further lower the sales rates.…”

Can gambling-funded research be non-biased? The case of section 52

“…Tove Sohlberg surveys former smokers’ support of tobacco control policies in Sweden ( Sohlberg, 2019 ); Emiliussen, Andersen, Nielsen, Braun, and Bilberg have inquired into how goals are defined for elderly alcohol-dependent patients seeking help ( Emiliussen et al, 2019 ); Johansen, Kristiansen, Bjelland, and Tavakoli study the under-researched group of SUD therapists ( Johansen et al, 2019 ); help-seeking in drug-related emergency situations is examined with the help of online surveying in Sweden ( Soussan and Kjellgren, 2019 ); and gambling among homeless people in Poland is explored by Łukasz Wieczorek, Stokwiszewski, and Klingemann (2019) .…”

Retailer’s Density and Single Stick Cigarette’s Accessibility among School-Age Children in Indonesia

“…Only a few studies have tested the theory by exposing the target segments (Durkin et al, 2022). Public support is essential for successful implementation; however, while public resistance can occur against a regulation, interventions tend to become more acceptable (Sohlberg, 2019;Nurhasana et al, 2020).…”

“…However, it was not located in DKI Jakarta (Morrison et al, 2021). A deep and further examination regarding the possibility of children's accessibility to buy cigarettes is highly recommended to find out other tobacco control policies and practices (D'Angelo et al, 2015;Sohlberg, 2019;Nurhasana et al, 2020;Dewi et al, 2022). The retailer data from Google was followed up by a random field survey as the triangulation of confirming the accessibility of singlestick cigarettes; it was also to find out the sellers' support for the restrictions policy.…”