Indoor Smoking Bans: Do They Work?

Bar and restaurant smoking bans are associated with a decreased smoking risk and smoking intensity among individuals aged 18 to 35 years, according to a recent study.

For their study, researchers evaluated longitudinal data from adult participants enrolled in the 1985-2011 Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study, as well as data on state, county, and local 100% smoke-free bar and restaurant policies. Baseline patient ages ranged from 18 to 35 years.
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The association of smoking bans with within-person change in current smoking risk, smoking intensity, and quit attempts was assessed via fixed effects models. Linear and nonlinear adjustment was used for secular trends.

Findings from models with a linear secular trend indicated that smoking bans had resulted in a decline in current smoking risk and smoking intensity, as well as a higher likelihood of attempting to quit. This association was strongest among participants with a bachelor’s degree or higher.

In models with a non-linear secular trend, these results were attenuated. However, effect modification results were largely unchanged, the researchers noted.

“Findings suggest that smoking ban associations may be difficult to disentangle from other tobacco control interventions, and emphasize the importance of evaluating equity throughout policy implementation,” the researchers concluded.

—Christina Vogt

Reference:

Mayne SL, Auchincloss AH, Tabb LP, et al. Associations of bar and restaurant smoking bans with smoking behavior in the CARDIA study: a 25-year study [Published online January 11, 2018]. Am J Epidemiol. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwx372.