Effect of local restaurant smoking regulations on environmental tobacco smoke exposure among youths.
OBJECTIVE
We examined the effect of local restaurant smoking regulations on restaurant environmental tobacco smoke exposure among youths.


METHODS
We interviewed 3863 Massachusetts youths aged 12-17 years and ascertained how often they saw smokers in restaurants in their town. We assessed the effect of local restaurant smoking regulation strength on nonexposure to environmental tobacco smoke (seeing smokers never or only rarely).


RESULTS
Compared with youths from towns with weak regulations, youths from towns with medium-strength regulations had 1.4 times the odds (odds ratio = 1.36; 95% confidence interval = 1.12, 1.65) and youths from towns with strong regulations had twice the odds (odds ratio = 2.03; 95% confidence interval = 1.64, 2.52) of reporting nonexposure.


CONCLUSIONS
Strong local restaurant smoking regulations are associated with reduced environmental tobacco smoke exposure among youths
Siegel
Michael
M
Social and Behavioral Sciences Department, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA. mbsiegel@bu.edu
Albers
Alison B
AB
Cheng
Debbie M
DM
Biener
Lois
L
Rigotti
Nancy A
NA
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D033161:Government Regulation; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D009111:Local Government; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011634:Public Health / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012147:Restaurants / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution