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CDC COMMUNITY GUIDE: Reducing Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke: Smoking Bans and Restrictions

CDC

An Evidence-Based Practice

This practice has been Archived and is no longer maintained.

Description

Smoking bans and restrictions are policies, regulations, and laws that limit smoking in workplaces and other public areas. Smoking bans entirely prohibit smoking in geographically defined areas; smoking restrictions limit smoking to designated areas.

The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends smoking bans and restrictions whether used alone or as part of a multicomponent community or workplace intervention based on strong evidence of effectiveness in reducing exposure to environmental tobacco smoke.

The findings of this review should be considered in conjunction with Task Force recommendations for smoke-free policies to reduce tobacco use among workers based on sufficient evidence of effectiveness of these policies in reducing tobacco use among workers.

Results / Accomplishments

Results from the Systematic Reviews:
Ten studies qualified for the review.

• Environmental measurements of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) components (e.g., nicotine vapor) decreased by a median of 72% (range, -44% to -97%) in assessments conducted between 6 months and 12 months after implementation of the ban or restriction (4 studies).
• Self-reported exposure to ETS between 4 and 18 months following implementation decreased by a median of 60% (range 4% to -94%; 6 studies).
• Reductions in ETS exposure were greater in workplaces that had smoking bans than in those with only smoking restrictions (10 studies).
• Smoking bans were effective in a wide variety of public and private workplaces and healthcare settings. Their effectiveness should extend to most indoor workplaces in the United States.
• Studies evaluating smoking bans or restrictions also observed reductions in the amount smoked.

About this Promising Practice

Primary Contact
Topics
Health / Alcohol & Drug Use
Community / Governance
Source
Community Guide Branch Epidemiology and Analysis Program Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Location
USA
For more details
Target Audience
Adults