摘要：Objectives. We examined the effect of local restaurant smoking regulations on restaurant environmental tobacco smoke exposure among youths. Methods. We interviewed 3863 Massachusetts youths aged 12–17 years and ascertained how often they saw smokers in restaurants in their town. We assessed the effect of local restaurant smoking regulation strength on nonexposure to environmental tobacco smoke (seeing smokers never or only rarely). Results. Compared with youths from towns with weak regulations, youths from towns with medium-strength regulations had 1.4 times the odds (odds ratio = 1.36; 95% confidence interval = 1.12, 1.65) and youths from towns with strong regulations had twice the odds (odds ratio = 2.03; 95% confidence interval = 1.64, 2.52) of reporting nonexposure. Conclusions. Strong local restaurant smoking regulations are associated with reduced environmental tobacco smoke exposure among youths Environmental tobacco smoke exposure in bars and restaurants is a health hazard for customers and employees. 1– 3 To protect the public, many communities have adopted regulations restricting smoking in these establishments. 4– 9 Because of the widespread adoption of these laws, it is important to evaluate whether they are effective in reducing environmental tobacco smoke exposure. Although there is strong evidence that local workplace smoking ordinances reduce employees’ environmental tobacco smoke exposure, 10– 13 the evidence regarding the effect of restaurant smoking ordinances is quite limited. 2, 14, 15 There is evidence that smoke-free policies in specific bars and restaurants results in substantial reductions in environmental tobacco smoke exposure in those establishments. 16– 21 Although these studies indicate that smoke-free bar and restaurant ordinances could be expected to result in decreased exposure, they do not demonstrate what happens in actual practice. This study examines the relationship between Massachusetts youths’ self-reported environmental tobacco smoke exposure in restaurants and the local restaurant smoking regulation in the towns in which these individuals reside. It addresses the limitations of earlier studies by evaluating the effects of local regulations in towns of varying sociodemographic characteristics, evaluating the effect of restaurant smoking regulations in actual practice, and evaluating the effect of many local 100% smoke-free bar and restaurant regulations.
