Smoke-free air policies: past, present and future

Abstract

Smoke-free policies have been an important tobacco control intervention. As recently as 20 years ago, few communities required workplaces and hospitality venues to be smoke-free, but today approximately 11% of the world's population live in countries with laws that require these places to be smoke-free. This paper briefly summarises important milestones in the history of indoor smoke-free policies, the role of scientific research in facilitating their adoption, a framework for smoke-free policy evaluation and industry efforts to undermine regulations. At present, smoke-free policies centre on workplaces, restaurants and pubs. In addition, many jurisdictions are now beginning to implement policies in outdoor areas and in shared multiunit housing settings. The future of smoke-free policy development depends on credible scientific data that documents the health risks of secondhand smoke exposure. Over the next 20 years smoke-free policies will very likely extend to outdoor and private areas, and changes in the types of tobacco products that are consumed may also have implications for the nature and scope of the smoke-free policies of the future.

Population Support Before and After the Implementation of Smoke-Free Laws in the United States: Trends From 1992–2007

“…It seems that the tobacco industry is not correct in claiming that smoke-free laws are unworkable and that the public will not support them. 7 If that were the case, support for the laws would be more likely to go down than up after the implementation.…”

“…3 Another important reason for monitoring population support for smoke-free laws is the tobacco industry's claims that smoke-free laws are not supported by the public, that getting the public to comply with the laws will be difficult, and that there will be negative economic consequences of smoke-free laws for the hospitality industry. 7 If that is true, then population support will be likely to decrease after the implementation of the laws.…”

Contrasting Smokers' and Snus Users' Perceptions of Personal Tobacco Behavior in Norway

“…The adverse effects of ETS form the foundation of a variety of legal regulations of smoking in public places worldwide (Hyland, Barnoya, & Corral, 2012;Koh, Joossens, & Connolly, 2007; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1986). The legitimate basis for banning snus use in public spaces is weaker than that for cigarette smoking.…”

Impacto sobre el consumo en bares, cafeterías y restaurantes de la modificación de la ley del tabaco española

“…Nuestros resultados están en la misma línea que los trabajos anteriores: la nueva ley no ha cambiado los hábitos de gasto en los establecimientos hosteleros de los españoles; por contra, la situación de crisis económica, con su efecto sobre el desempleo y los ingresos de los hogares, sí ha condicionado los comportamientos de las familias. En los debates sobre políticas de espacios sin humo,los sectores tabaquero y hostelero han insistido siempre en las consecuencias negativas y económicamente más desastrosas 16,17 . Sin embargo, cada vez hay más literatura que demuestra que estas leyes no suponen ningún efecto sobre los resultados económicos del sector hostelero [18][19][20] .…”