The relationship of cigarette prices and no-smoking bylaws to the prevalence of smoking in Canada.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to analyze the association of cigarette prices and no-smoking bylaws with the prevalence of smoking. METHODS: Data on individual smoking status were taken from two national household surveys in Canada. Current cigarette price, the 1-year and 10-year increase in price, and the extent of local restrictions on public smoking were added to the model. Logistic regression was used to estimate the odds of being a smoker. RESULTS: The odds ratio for being a smoker was 1.21 where no-smoking by-laws were relatively infrequent and 1.26 when cigarettes were relatively inexpensive, after adjusting for individual age, sex, education, and marital status. CONCLUSIONS: Both cigarette prices and no-smoking bylaws are effective in controlling smoking; either alone will likely have less impact than the two measures together.

Relationships between community characteristics and municipal smoke-free bylaw status and strength

“…Socio-demographics were critical variables in Alberta, while in Ontario structural factors were most important. This is consistent with other work suggesting that different contextual factors are at play in municipal decision-making around having a bylaw and in the level of protection it will offer [12,25,26]. In other words, the decision to pass "any" bylaw may be related to a different combination of community variables than the decision to implement a "strong" bylaw.…”

“…Finally, some variation in bylaw composition may be explained by the influence of local ecological factors, or community characteristics. Sociodemographics, geographic region, or smoking rates, for example, have been reported to play a role in the development and strength of municipal smoke-free bylaws [12,[22][23][24][25][26].…”

Effect of smoke-free workplaces on smoking behaviour: systematic review

“…Strong local ordinances in California in 1990-1 were associated with anabsolute quit rate (over the previous six months) 7.6% higher than in areas with no workplace laws 86. A Canadian study in 1990-1 found a 21% reduction in the odds of being a smoker in areas with high versus low coverage of smoking bylaws 89. A 1995 Finnish law that prohibited smoking in public areas in workplaces(with the option of creating separately ventilated smoking rooms) was associated with a 4.5% drop in prevalence of smoking and three fewer cigarettes smoked per day among continuing smokers 57…”

Treatment of tobacco dependence: integrating recent progress into practice

“…By implementing those measures 26,27 it is possible to reduce tobacco use on a societal level and therefore facilitate change on an individual level.…”