Celebrating five years of smoke-free restaurants

2010-06-09

On the 1st July 2010 Sweden will celebrate five years of the non-smoking policy in bars and restaurants. During the five year period it has become a public health success.

The restaurant-owners are particularly happy, the non-smoking environment has granted their employees with better health conditions and working environments, as well as a rise in revenues and above all customer appreciation.
 
Creating non-smoking environments is one of the cornerstones for an effective tobacco-preventive politic. Not to be exposed to second hand smoke has a positive effect on the health of individuals. Research shows that the smoking-ban contribute to the improvement in the health of people, in particular those working in bars and restaurants in Sweden. Furthermore, the introduction of the non-smoking policy also contributes to negative attitudes and social norms towards tobacco, as well as supporting those who are trying to give up smoking.

The non-smoking ban also seems to have contributed to less number of people smoking in Sweden. 150 000 fewer Swedes were daily smokers in 2006 compared to 2004, resulting in great positive health effects. Since 2006, the number of smokers in Sweden continues to decrease, in 2009 only 11% of the men and 13% of the women were daily smokers. As a result of this policy the number of people exposed to second hand smoke has also decreased. 31 % of men are said to have been exposed to second hand smoke in 2004 and in 2006 the number had fallen to 21%. For women the share decreased from 22% to 15%.

Those that are exposed to second hand smoking runs the same risk of getting the same diseases as those caused by active smoking, in the short-term such as cough, irritated upper respiratory tracts and red eyes and in the long-term CHD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and lung cancer.

The effects of the 2005 legislation in short:

• 150 000 fewer daily smokers in 2006 compared to 2004.
• The exposure of second hand smoke has decreased with 9%, from 27% to 18%.
• The observance is high. During the first six months only 11 violations has been reported from 1 163 surveillance occasions.
• The Swedish people have a positive attitude towards the legislation. 93% of the population is positive to non-smoking bars and restaurants.
• There has been an improved health for employees in bars and restaurants. There has been a cut in half in symptoms such as sore and itching throat, red-eyes and coughs.
• The restaurant industry has not experienced any negative economic outcomes as a result of the ban. On the contrary, the total number of employees has increased since the smoking ban was introduced in bars and restaurants in Sweden.