Teens feel encouraged not to smoke when restaurants ban smoking. Normally, the youngsters follow suit and do what others do. But, when they observe that others are not smoking, they also feel they shouldn’t do so. This was observed in study conducted in Massachusetts.Youths living in towns with strict smoking bans were less likely to smoke by almost 40% as compared to those who lived in towns where smoking was permitted.
Highlighting the study in the May 2008 issue of Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, the researchers are of the view that smoking bans discourage teenagers from smoking by sending a message across to them that smoking was unacceptable in the community. It also reduces their exposure to smoking in public places, according to Dr. Michael Siegel of School of Public Health, Boston University, who is the lead author of the study.
Dr. Siegel is of the view that teens smoke when they observe that others are also smoking and feel it is the norm to do so. They refrain from smoking once they feel that it should not be done in public.
Dr. Siegel observed 2,791 children between ages 12 and 17 who lived in Massachusetts. The study began in 2001 and nearly 100 cities and towns had enacted laws restricting smoking. The teens living in these cities and towns were observed to see their approach towards smoking. On the whole 9% of them became smokers. In towns where the ban was not there, the percentage of smokers was 10%. Where the ban was tough only 8% became smokers.
The study also took note of the fact a teen smoker had a parent or a close friend who also smoked.
Dr. Siegel holds the view that there was no other such intervention program that could cut half the rate of smoking. Of course, it is not necessary that the same yardstick could apply in other states as well. Each state has its own respective anti-smoking campaigns.
