Background
The goal of this study was to assess the effects of Minnesota's comprehensive, statewide
smokefree law on young adults' perceived opportunities to smoke in restaurants and
bars.
Purpose
Differential effects of the law were examined for those living with and without previous
local smokefree ordinances.
Methods
Telephone surveys were conducted 6–12 months prior, 0–6 months prior, and 0–6 months
after Minnesota's statewide smokefree law went into effect. Participants included
young adults from a population-based cohort in Minnesota (n=1446) and from four other Upper Midwest states that serve as a comparison (n=238).
Results
A greater proportion of Minnesota participants (regardless of previous law) reported
it was very hard for an adult to find a place to smoke in both restaurants and bars/clubs
after the statewide law, compared to the comparison group. Effects were greater among
Minnesota participants who did not live with a local smokefree ordinance previously.
Conclusions
Within 6 months of Minnesota's statewide smokefree law, Minnesota young adults, even
those who lived with a prior local smoking ordinance, believed it was more difficult
for adults to find a place to smoke in restaurants and bars/clubs. Changing perceived
opportunities to smoke in the state may be an initial step in changing social norms
and smoking behaviors. These results suggest that statewide smokefree laws may provide
additional barriers to smoking, beyond those obtained through local ordinances.
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References
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Article info
Identification
Copyright
© 2010 American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
