The effect of a smoke‐free law on restaurant business in South Australia

Abstract

Background: Despite evidence to the contrary from overseas research, the introduction of smoke‐free legislation in South Australia (SA), which required all restaurants to go smoke‐free in January 1999, sparked concerns among the hospitality industry about loss of restaurant business. This study aimed to determine whether the law had a detrimental impact on restaurant business in SA. Methods: Using time series analysis, we compared the ratio of monthly restaurant turnover from restaurants and cafes in SA to (a) total retail turnover in SA (minus restaurants) for the years 1991 to 2001 and (b) Australian restaurant turnover (minus SA, Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory) for the years 1991–2000. Results: There was no decline in the ratio of (a) SA restaurant turnover to SA retail turnover or (b) SA restaurant turnover to Australian restaurant turnover. Conclusion: The introduction of a smoke‐free law applying to restaurants in SA did not adversely affect restaurant business in SA.

Protecting the World From Secondhand Tobacco Smoke Exposure: Where Do We Stand and Where Do We Go From Here?

“…In the United States and Canada, studies in counties, states, or provinces yield no evidence of change in hospitality industry revenues (Alamar & Glantz, 2007;Alpert, Carpenter, Travers, & Connolly, 2007;Hyland & Cummings, 1999;IARC, 2009;Luk, Ferrence, & Gmel, 2006;Pyles & Hahn, 2011;Young, Szychowski, Karp, Liu, & Diedrich, 2010). Similar results have been shown in European countries, Australia (Wakefield et al, 2002), and New Zealand (Edwards et al, 2008;Melberg & Lund, 2012). Although there is no reason to suspect that the findings will be different in Asia, Latin America, or Africa, few studies are available from those regions.…”

Much Ado About Nothing? Smoking Bans and Germany’s Hospitality Industry

“…However, previous research has focused on countries such as Australia (e.g. Wakefield et al, 2002;Lal et al, 2004), Canada (e.g. Stanwick et al, 1988;Luk et al, 2006), and in particular the United States (e.g.…”

Evaluation of the Immediate Impact of the Washington, D.C., Smoke-Free Indoor Air Policy on Bar Employee Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure

“…2 Although the evidence of increased risk is well-documented, workplaces continue to be the most common sources of ETS exposure among American adults. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] In reviews of risk by type of employment, foodservice employees have the highest ETS exposure rates. 5,12 Smoke-free indoor air laws protected only 58% of food-service employees in 1999.…”

“…Evaluations of the impact of these laws have consistently reported improvements in employee health. 5,[8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] In April 2006, the Washington, D.C., (DC) City Council approved an amendment to the Department of Health Functions Clarification Act of 2001, creating a smoke-free indoor air law. 21 On January 2, 2007, the indoor smoking ban was initiated in bars, restaurants, and pool halls.…”