DID YOU KNOW?

Studies have shown that sales have not declined in bars and restaurants after implementation of the smoking ban.

Policies have shown to be effective in tobacco use prevention and cessation. Check out the ways policies have worked.

Smoking Bans
Coughing, watery eyes, stinky clothes—these are just some of the things that you get to take home with you after spending time in a public area that allows smoking. You know that research has shown that second hand smoke is dangerous to non-smokers. And, of course, smokers’ health is at risk from actually smoking!

States have responded to this public health danger with smoking bans that don’t allow smoking in public places, including bars, restaurants, and workplaces. These laws protect non-smokers, including bar and restaurant workers, from the dangers of second hand smoke. Smokers too receive a “break” from cigarettes. Often times, being around smoking causes cravings for smokers.

Some people are concerned that patrons won’t come to restaurants and bars if they can’t smoke. However, studies have shown that sales have not declined in bars and restaurants after implementation of the smoking ban. (1)

Maryland’s Statewide Smoking ban will go into effect on February 1, 2008. However, some of Maryland’s local counties had already passed smoking bans—Charles, Montgomery, Prince George’s, Talbot, and now Howard County. Baltimore City has passed a policy to become smoke free as of January 1, 2008—one month before the statewide ban goes into effect.

Even colleges are advocating for tobacco free campuses. Maryland has 4 colleges that are entirely smoke free—Columbia Union College, Garrett College, Maryland Bible College and Seminary, and the most recent addition, Harford Community College.(2) HCC implemented their policy on July 1, 2007, which even includes prohibiting smoking in personal vehicles that are located on campus.

States in the US are not the only ones developing smoking bans. Many countries, including Ireland, England, Scotland, and Norway have 100% smoke free policies in their bars and restaurants. (3)

Tax Increase
Just think, at an average retail price of $4.42 per pack of cigarettes (4), smoking one pack a week, you’d be spending over $200 a year! What could you buy with that instead? You could buy an MP3 player and download over 40 songs! On January 1, 2008 the cost of cigarettes will increase by $1. That’s money you could be spending elsewhere.

Tax and price increases of tobacco products have been found to effectively decrease tobacco consumption among youth. In fact, when prices of cigarettes increase by 10%, cigarette consumption among youth declines around 6%!(5)

Currently, Maryland has an excise tax of $1.00 per pack of cigarettes; this ranks us as the 24th highest tax out of all 50 states. New Jersey has the highest tax, at $2.58 per pack, while Missouri has the lowest tax, at 0.17 per pack. (6) Once our cigarette tax increases to $2 per pack, Maryland will join eight other states with tobacco taxes of $2 or more.

Enforcement
Tobacco policy enforcement is needed if people are going to follow them.

Research has shown that compliance checks and fines for retail store owners have been effective in preventing sale of tobacco to underage youth. (7)

The jury is still out on the effectiveness of fining underage youth who possess tobacco products.

references | updated: 10.31.2007

references

Alamar, B & Glantz, S. (2007). Effect of smoke-free laws on bar value and profits. American Journal of Public Health. 97(8), pages 1400-1405.
Americans for Non Smokers Rights. U.S. Colleges and Universities with Smoke Free Air Policies. Retrieved October 31, 2007 from http://www.no-smoke.org/pdf/smokefreecollegesuniversities.pdf.
Americans for Nonsmokers Rights. Smoke Free Status of Restaurants and Bars around the World. Retrieved October 31, 2007 from http://www.no-smoke.org/pdf/internationalbarsandrestaurants.pdf.
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. State Cigarette Prices, Taxes, and Costs Per Pack. Retrieved November 9, 2007 from http://tobaccofreekids.org/research/factsheets/pdf/0207.pdf
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. Raising Cigarette Taxes Reduces Smoking, Especially Among Kids (And the Cigarette Companies Know It). Retrieved October 31, 2007 from http://tobaccofreekids.org/research/factsheets/pdf/0146.pdf.
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. State Cigarette Excise Tax Rates and Rankings. Retrieved October 31, 2007 from http://tobaccofreekids.org/research/factsheets/pdf/0097.pdf.
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. Enforcing Laws Prohibiting Cigarette Sales to Kids Reduces Youth Smoking. Retrieved October 31, 2007 from http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/research/factsheets/pdf/0049.pdf.

close references