Attitudes toward smokeless tobacco use at all public sports venues among U.S. adults, 2016

Abstract

Policies prohibiting smokeless tobacco (SLT) use at sports venues have been enacted in California and nine U.S. cities. We measured opposition toward SLT use at all public sports venues and its correlates among U.S. adults. Data were from the 2016 SummerStyles, a web-based survey of U.S. adults aged ≥18years (n=4203). Weighted estimates of opposition (“strongly” or “somewhat”) SLT use were computed overall and by selected characteristics. Multivariable Poisson regression analyses were performed to identify determinants of opposition toward SLT use overall and among current tobacco product users. Overall, 81.8% of U.S. adults opposed SLT use at all public sports venues. Opposition varied by tobacco product use status: 85.9%, 86.9% and 60.4% among never, former, and current tobacco product users, respectively. Among all adults, the likelihood of opposition was higher among females than males (Adjusted Prevalence Ratio [APR]=1.05; 95%CI=1.01–1.08) and increased with every 10-year increase in age (APR=1.01; 95%CI=1.00–1.02). Likelihood was lower among persons with a high school diploma (APR=0.92; 95%CI=0.88–0.96) than those with college degree or higher; persons widowed/divorced/separated (APR=0.92; 95%CI=0.87–0.97) than those married; and current tobacco product users (APR=0.70; 95%CI=0.65–0.76) than never users. Among current tobacco product users, likelihood was lower among persons living in the Midwest (APR=0.81; 95%CI=0.66–0.98) and South (APR=0.78; 95%CI=0.65–0.94) than the Northeast. Most U.S. adults, including three-fifths of current tobacco product users, oppose SLT use at all public sports venues. Complete tobacco-free policies for sports venues that prohibit all forms of tobacco product use can help reduce the social acceptability of SLT use.