Support for smoke-free restaurants among Massachusetts adults, 1992-1999

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The authors examined trends and predictors of public support for smoke-free restaurants in Massachusetts. METHODS: Since 1992, the Massachusetts Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System has asked survey respondents about their attitudes toward smoking in restaurants. Analyses using data from 1992 to 1999 characterized changes over time in support for smoke-free restaurants and the role of demographic and smoking-related factors in predicting support. RESULTS: During 1992 to 1999, the rate of support for smoke-free restaurants increased from 37.5% to 59.8%, with similar increases among current, former, and never smokers. After adjustment for smoking status, support was associated with socioeconomic characteristics, race/ethnicity, and household smoking rules. Among current smokers, lighter smokers and those who were trying to quit were more likely to endorse smoke-free restaurants. CONCLUSIONS: There has been a substantial increase in support for smoke-free restaurants among both smokers and nonsmokers in Massachusetts.

Public Support for Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act Point-of-Sale Provisions: Results of a National Study

“…42 In analyses of smokers, we controlled for intention to quit 31,43 and quit attempts, 42 which have been associated with increased policy support. Smokers reported an intention to quit smoking in the next 6 months, or not (reference).…”

A Communicative Action Approach to Evaluating Citizen Support for a Government's Smoking Policies

“…They were gender, age, ethnicity, education, monthly household income, and cigarette use. To control for the effect of participants' favorable or unfavorable evaluation of smoking on their normative support for the government, their attitude toward smoking was also tested (Borland et al, 2006;Brooks & Mucci, 2001;Lader, 2007). The measure of attitude consisted of five items using 5-point semantic differential scales: ''In my opinion, I think smoking is .…”

“…The concept explored here differs from individuals' favorable attitude toward specific antismoking measures pertinent to the fulfillment of personal interests and demands, which is an illustration of specific support in an Eastonian term (1979). Past research indicates that citizens' specific support for smoking policies can be associated with demographic factors such as age, gender, education, and income, and smokingspecific factors such as smoking status and general attitude toward smoking (Borland et al, 2006;Brooks & Mucci, 2001;Lader, 2007). However, if as Habermas's theory posits, legitimacy is rooted in citizen acknowledgment of the procedural fairness of lawmaking, then individuals' evaluation of communicative conditions should play an important role in accounting for legitimacy appraisals in addition to whatever their personal dispositions would do.…”

Support for and Reported Compliance Among Smokers With Smoke-Free Policies in Air-Conditioned Hospitality Venues in Malaysia and Thailand: Findings From the International Tobacco Control Southeast Asia Survey

“…3 Evidence also suggests that smokers who live in places where smoking is prohibited in restaurants and bars are more likely to support these policies 4 and that the level of support by both smokers and nonsmokers increases following the introduction of such policies and also the longer the policies are in effect. 5,6 Compliance with smoke-free law is also generally high particularly if there is total ban in venues. 7 …”