title: Public support for smoke-free areas in Israel: a case for action.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Secondhand smoke exposure (SHSe) harms adults and children. Though most governments are obliged by international health treaty to protect nonsmokers from SHSe, few adequately do so. Public opinion can provide a powerful mandate for smoke-free policies, but a representative public voice is often absent from the political discussion. For example, following Cabinet approval of a national tobacco control plan, Israel remains embroiled in stormy debate about smoke-free legislation. This debate has unfolded without benefit of current empirical evidence on nationwide public support. The present study reports and assesses public opinion regarding smoke-free places.
  
  
  METHODS
  A nationally representative survey (n=505) was conducted in December, 2010. The response rate was 61%.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Public opinion supports smoke-free air in many places. There was broad consensus among current, former, and never-smokers for smoke-free cars carrying children (94.4%), and smoke-free healthcare facility entrances (92.6%). A clear majority (67.0%) supported completely smoke-free bars and pubs. Nearly half (47.3%) supported eliminating school staff smoking rooms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data strengthen the case for the recent government-approved tobacco control plan. Valid data regarding public opinion on tobacco control can facilitate passage and implementation of smoke-free legislation, thus speeding transition to smoke-free societies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion, School of Public Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, P.O.B. 39040, Ramat Aviv 69978, Israel. rosenl@post.tau.ac.il
authors.forename: Laura J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Rosen
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Rier
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: Anat
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oren
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kopel
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gevman
authors.forename: Mitch
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zeller
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Connolly
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003625:Data Collection; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011639:Public Opinion; D012737:Sex Factors; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution