An Evaluation of the Influence of Local Anti-Smoking Ordinances

Audience: The intended audience for this presentation includes both state and local policymakers and advocates in tobacco control.

Key Points: Although anti-tobacco advocates and policymakers experienced great success in advancing indoor smoking restrictions at the local level in the 1990s, tobacco policy researchers during this period were hesitant to encourage similar policies regulating indoor smoking at the state level.  In the absence of a successful experience with implementing local ordinances and the grassroots support they would generate, researchers feared that any attempt at statewide legislation would be weakened by powerful tobacco interests and, in many cases, preempt strong local ordinances.  This study found that the presence of local smoking ordinances in a state is actually associated with a weaker state smoking law over time.  This did not result in a statistically higher smoking prevalence or lung cancer incidence at the state level, however, suggesting that each state must approach its tobacco control policies based on its own unique political culture and values.  States that do seek to strengthen statewide smoking restrictions may find success through non-traditional strategies, including increasing a state’s cigarette excise tax and increasing funding for tobacco prevention programs.

Educational Experience: The audience will learn from the lessons gained from the past sixteen years of state and local tobacco policy efforts.

Benefits: This research benefits policymakers and advocates with limited political capital and resources by identifying strategies and solutions that have proven to be successful in the modern anti-tobacco movement.