title: Smoking ban policies in Italy and the potential impact of the so-called Sirchia Law: state of the art after eight years.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present work is to describe the state of the art of tobacco habits in Italy, eight years after the law was introduced.
  
  
  METHODS
  Time series analyses, based on estimates of smoking prevalence/consumption derived from the openly available data of national surveys performed during the 2001-2013 period, were performed. Data have been expressed in percentage of smokers and daily cigarettes consumption. Time changes are expressed as expected annual percentage change (EAPC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over time, the percentage of Italian smokers shows a constant and statistically significant decrease (from 28.9% in 2001 to 20.6% in 2013, EAPC = -2.6%, and P < 0.001). Regarding data stratified by gender, we found a stronger reduction among men (EAPC = -2.9%, P < 0.001) than in women (EAPC = -2.5%, P < 0.001). Similarly, the consumption of tobacco smoking, measured as the number of daily cigarettes smoked, registered a downward trend (P < 0.001). No join point (time point when a significant trend change is detected) resulted from the trend analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Data show a constant decrease of tobacco consumption in Italy, with no join point related to the introduction of the banning law. These findings require to reflect on the priorities of the smoking banning policies that may be focused on other intervention activities such as to increase the price of cigarettes.
authors: Department of Public Health, University of Turin, via Santena 5 bis, 10126 Turin, Italy.
authors: Maria Rosaria
authors: 0000-0001-7357-2892
authors: MR
authors: Gualano
authors: Department of Public Health, University of Turin, via Santena 5 bis, 10126 Turin, Italy.
authors: Fabrizio
authors: 0000-0002-4329-9028
authors: F
authors: Bert
authors: Department of Public Health, University of Turin, via Santena 5 bis, 10126 Turin, Italy.
authors: Giacomo
authors: 0000-0001-5189-1294
authors: G
authors: Scaioli
authors: Department of Public Health, University of Turin, via Santena 5 bis, 10126 Turin, Italy.
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: Passi
authors: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: La Torre
authors: Department of Public Health, University of Turin, via Santena 5 bis, 10126 Turin, Italy.
authors: Roberta
authors: R
authors: Siliquini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000473:pathology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology