Effect of smoke-free patio policy of restaurants and bars on exposure to second-hand smoke

- Effect of smoke-free patio policy on adult second-hand smoke was examined.
- Patio smoking ban significantly reduced exposure to second-hand smoke.
- Analyses by smoking status found similar significant effect on both smokers and non-smokers.
- Smoke-free legislation is an effective public health measure.

ObjectiveWhile there is increasing support for restricting smoking in restaurant and bar patios, there is limited evidence on the effectiveness of this policy. This study examined the effect of smoke-free patio policy of restaurants and bars on adult second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure.MethodsData were drawn from the 2005-2012 Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey (n = 89,743), a repeated cross-sectional survey of youth and adult. Regression analysis, a quasi-experimental design was used to examine the effect of provincial smoke-free patio policy on self-reported exposure to SHS.ResultsAnalyses suggest that exposure to SHS on patios of bars and restaurants declined following the adoption of provincial smoke-free patio policy. Relative to pre-policy SHS exposure, regression results showed a reduction in the probability of SHS exposure of up to 25% in Alberta. Similarly, in Nova Scotia, the probability of SHS exposure declined by up to 21%. Analyses stratified by smoking status found similar significant effect on both smokers and non-smokers.ConclusionsFindings suggest that provincial patio smoking ban on bars and restaurants had the intended effect of protecting non-smokers from SHS exposure. This study is consistent with a large body of evidence showing that a strong smoke-free legislation is an effective public health measure.