Public Opinion and Smoke-Free Laws

• Published in: Policy, politics & nursing practice politics & nursing practice, 2007-11, Vol.8 (4), p.262-270
• Main Authors: Rayens, Mary Kay, Hahn, Ellen J., Langley, Ronald E., Hedgecock, Susan, Butler, Karen M., Greathouse-Maggio, Lisa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Adults; Bans; Bars; Cancer; Cardiovascular diseases; Data Collection; Entertainment; Female; Health education; Health risk assessment; Health risks; Humans; Kentucky; Law; Legislation; Male; Middle Aged; Passive smoking; Policy making; Public Facilities; Public health; Public Opinion; Public support; Respondents; Restaurants; Smoking; Smoking - legislation & jurisprudence; Smoking - psychology; Smoking Prevention; Telephone surveys; Tobacco Smoke Pollution - legislation & jurisprudence; Tobacco Smoke Pollution - prevention & control
• ISSN: 1527-1544; 1552-7468
• DOI: 10.1177/1527154407312736

Public support for Lexington-Fayette County, Kentucky's smoke-free law, perception of health risks from exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS), smoking behaviors, and frequency of visiting restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues were assessed pre- and post-law. Two cohorts of noninstitutionalized adults (N = 2,146) were randomly selected and invited to participate in a 10- to 15-min telephone survey. Public support for the smoke-free law increased from 56% to 63%, and respondents were 1.3 times more likely to perceive SHS exposure as a health risk after the law took effect. Although adult smoking and home smoking policy did not change post-law, adults frequented public venues at least as much as before the law. Lexington adults favored the smoke-free legislation despite living in a traditionally protobacco climate. The smokefree law acted as a public health intervention as it increased perception of risk of heart disease and cancer from SHS exposure.