Non-smokers' responses when smokers light up: a population-based study.
OBJECTIVE
This study examines the extent to which the 'common courtesy approach' is adopted by non-smokers when in the presence of smokers, in the state of Victoria, Australia, where restrictions on smoking in public places are relatively comprehensive.


METHODS
4,765 non-smokers aged 18 years and over were surveyed over two representative population telephone-administered surveys of randomly sampled Victorians conducted in 2004 and 2005.


RESULTS
Only 5.5% of non-smokers said they would ask a person to stop smoking if they lit up a cigarette nearby. The majority of non-smokers (74.7%) reported they would move away and 16.4% said they would do nothing. When asked what they would do if, in a public place, someone next to them asked if they minded whether they smoked, 48.8% of non-smokers reported they would say they would prefer it if they didn't smoke, while 28.0% reported that they would tell the person they don't mind when they would prefer that person not smoke. Overall, 46.7% of non-smokers indicated they would consent to be exposed to second-hand smoke if someone asked them this question.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings underline the importance of smoke-free policies in protecting a significant proportion of the non-smoker population, who remain unlikely to protect themselves individually.
Germain
Daniella
D
Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer, Cancer Control Research Institute, The Cancer Council Victoria, 1 Rathdowne Street, Carlton Victoria 3053, Australia.
Wakefield
Melanie
M
Durkin
Sarah
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011640:Public Policy; D012907:Smoking / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D012925:Social Conformity; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control; D014739:Victoria
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution