Abstract
Objectives: Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use is increasing in the U.S. Although marketed as a safer alternative for cigarettes, initial evidence suggests that e-cigarettes may pose a secondhand exposure risk. The current study explored the prevalence and correlates of support for e-cigarette bans. Methods: A sample of 265 current/former smokers completed a cross-sectional telephone survey from June–September 2014; 45% Black, 31% White, 21% Hispanic. Items assessed support for home and workplace bans for cigarettes and e-cigarettes and associated risk perceptions. Results: Most participants were aware of e-cigarettes (99%). Results demonstrated less support for complete e-cigarette bans in homes and workplaces compared to cigarettes. Support for complete e-cigarette bans was strongest among older, higher income, married respondents, and former smokers. Complete e-cigarette bans were most strongly endorsed when perceptions of addictiveness and health risks were high. While both e-cigarette lifetime and never-users strongly supported cigarette smoking bans, endorsement for e-cigarette bans varied by lifetime use and intentions to use e-cigarettes. Conclusions: Support for indoor e-cigarette bans is relatively low among individuals with a smoking history. Support for e-cigarette bans may change as evidence regarding their use emerges. These findings have implications for public health policy.
Highlights
The largest advances in tobacco control have come from legislative policies to enforce public smoking bans
In the U.S, support for smoking restrictions originated from grassroots efforts among nonsmokers who formed groups such as Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights (ANR)
Similar movements have taken place internationally, with smoking bans currently enforced in Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, and others [2]
Summary
The largest advances in tobacco control have come from legislative policies to enforce public smoking bans. Since the initiation of the nonsmokers’ rights movement in 1976, over 4063 municipalities have enacted laws restricting smoking in public places. Similar movements have taken place internationally, with smoking bans currently enforced in Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, and others [2]. The public health impact of bans on smoking is significant. The number of hospital admissions due to acute myocardial infarctions decreased significantly following the effecting of city-wide smoking bans [3,4,5]. Meta-analytic findings have demonstrated inverse associations between smoking ban implementation and hospital admission rates for other cardiovascular, respiratory, and cerebrovascular conditions [6]. Smoking bans are the most effective method for reducing environmental tobacco smoke, with estimates ranging from a 71%–100%
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