Association Between Smokefree Laws and Voluntary Smokefree-Home Rules

Abstract

Background More states and localities are passing restrictions on smoking in public places and workplaces. Purpose To determine what, if any, association exists between enactment of strong laws making public places or workplaces smokefree on adoption of voluntary smokefree-home policies, particularly whether such laws are associated with increased smoking at home. Methods Logistic regressions were used to quantify the OR of a person living with a 100% smokefree–home rule as a function of individual characteristics, household composition, and whether or not the residential region is covered by clean indoor air laws. The data came from successive waves of the Tobacco Use Supplement to Current Population Survey (TUS-CPS) for the years 1992–2007, and the American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation database of state and local government clean indoor air laws. Analysis was conducted in 2010 and 2011. Results Living in a county fully covered by a 100% clean indoor air law in workplaces or restaurants or bars is associated with an increased likelihood of having a voluntary 100% smokefree–home rule both for people living with smokers (OR=7.76; 95% CI=5.27, 11.43) and not living with smokers (OR=4.12; 95% CI=3.28, 5.16). Conclusions Strong clean indoor air laws are associated with large increases in voluntary smokefree-home policies both in the homes with and without smokers. These results support the hypothesis of norm spreading of clean indoor air laws.

Effects of Enactment of Legislative (Public) Smoking Bans on Voluntary Home Smoking Restrictions: A Review

“…2,22,23,29,[34][35][36][37][38][39][40] Nevertheless, some findings suggest that smoking bans may have negative repercussions. 4,41,42 The relationships between private and public spaces with regard to smoking bans and behavior have been found to be complex and have been said to "demand[] more consideration if interventions in public areas are meant to serve as catalysts for favorable changes in primary private spaces such as homes."…”

“…7 Social diffusion posits that restricting smoking in public spaces leads to increases in voluntary home smoking bans or restrictions. 22,23 This theoretical model encompasses ideas such as social norm and behavioral susceptibility theories. [24][25][26] Social norms influence social behavior through perceptions of what is "normal" or "typical."…”

Hospital Admissions for Childhood Asthma After Smoke-Free Legislation in England

“…18 These findings are consistent with data from the United States, Ireland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Scotland. 10,11,19 This suggests that our findings may be generalizable to these and other settings that have implemented comprehensive smokefree legislation covering virtually all enclosed public places and workplaces . The impact of smoke-free legislation on differences in household SHS exposure in children between affluent and deprived households remains unclear.…”

“…8 These findings are consistent with evidence that SHS exposure increases the incidence and severity of childhood asthma 9 and that smokefree legislation is associated with reductions in SHS exposure in the home. 10,11 This study examines whether the implementation of smoke-free legislation in England on July 1, 2007, covering virtually all enclosed public places and workplaces, was associated with a change in hospital admissions for childhood asthma. Because some studies suggest that this legislation may be associated with lower reductions in SHS exposure in poorer households, 12 we also examine whether changes in asthma admissions differed by socioeconomic status (SES).…”

Smoking Restrictions in Homes After Implementation of a Smoking Ban in Public Places

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] This is the first Canadian study examining changes in smoking restrictions in homes among a cohort of smokers, before and after the implementation of a smoking ban in public places.…”