title: Support for a tobacco endgame and increased regulation of the tobacco industry among New Zealand smokers: results from a National Survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the prevalence of smoker support for a ban on cigarette sales in 10 years time and increased regulation of the tobacco industry and to investigate the independent associations of support for these measures.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors surveyed opinions among adult smokers in two survey waves (N=1376 and N=923) from the New Zealand arm of the International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Survey during 2007-2009. The authors report prevalence of support stratified by age, gender and ethnicity. The authors carried out multivariate analyses to identify significant associations among potential determinants (demographics, socioeconomic status, mental health and smoking-related beliefs and behaviours) of support.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most New Zealand smokers supported greater regulation of the tobacco industry (65%) and more government action on tobacco (59%). Around half (46%) supported banning sales of cigarettes in 10 years time, provided effective nicotine substitutes were available. In a fully adjusted model, significant associations with support for greater tobacco company regulation included Māori ethnicity, experience of financial stress and greater awareness about the harms of smoking. Significant associations with support for a ban on tobacco sales in 10 years time included increasing area-based deprivation level, increasing intention to quit and greater concern about the health effects of smoking.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest that most smokers will support stronger government action to control the tobacco industry and that many support radical 'endgame' approaches. Greater support among Māori, more deprived and possibly Pacific smokers, is an important finding, which could inform the design and implementation of new policies given the very high smoking prevalence among these groups and hence high priority for targeted tobacco control interventions. Perceived difficulties in gaining public support should not impede the introduction of rigorous tobacco control measures needed to achieve a tobacco-free New Zealand.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Otago, PO Box 7343, Wellington South, New Zealand. richard.edwards@otago.ac.nz
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Jo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peace
authors.forename: Deepa
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Weerasekera
authors.forename: George W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Thomson
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gifford
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003132:Commerce / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005260:Female; D033161:Government Regulation; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D012907:Smoking / Q000208:ethnology / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D012923:Social Class; D019460:Tobacco Industry / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D062789:Tobacco Products / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D055815:Young Adult