title: Patterns of tobacco consumption in food facilities in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed at assessing prevailing patterns and risk factors of tobacco consumption among clients, food handlers and employers of food facilities, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional approach to a representative sample of food facilities in Riyadh was used. A sample of 3000 participants included clients (75%); food handlers/hospitality workers (20 %) and employers (5 %). Participants were reached at restaurants, food courts or cafes. A modified version of the WHO-CDC-Global Youth Tobacco Survey questionnaire was used for data collection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of tobacco use at food facilities was found to be 40.3 %, of which 74% were customers, 18.8% were food handlers and 7.2% were managers. The consumption of tobacco was higher at restaurants (39.9%), but lowest at food courts of shopping malls. Water pipe (55.3%) was the main consumption type, followed by cigarettes (42.6%) and chewing tobacco (2.1%). Multivariate analysis showed that gender (male), marital status (single), and type of food facility (Estaraha and café/coffee shop) were independent risk factors associated with tobacco use at food facilities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tobacco use is very common in food facilities in Riyadh as reflected by results of our study, especially among single males Saudis. We should build on success encountered in banning smoking in airports, airplanes, shopping malls, market places, educational institutions and healthcare facilities, extending the ban to include food facilities as well. This is important for the health of non-smokers as well as smokers themselves.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mandil
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamani
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Abdulaziz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: BinSaeed
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Shaffi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Afnan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Younis
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Mutlaq
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Al-Baqmy
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Abdulaziz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Rajhi
keywords: Food facilities; Riyadh; Saudi Arabia; tobacco use