Economic Impact of Louisiana's Smoke-free Air Act on Hospitality Employment

Audience: The audience includes tobacco researchers, policymakers, program managers, and advocates. It is specifically geared toward those using data to drive policy change. Key Points: Economic analysis of employment patterns of hospitality workers in Louisiana revealed no negative impacts on the hospitality workforce following implementation of the Smoke-free Air Act. Advocates for smoking restrictions need to have the resources and findings to combat tobacco companies’ strategies to confuse the economic argument. Once proper economic analysis is conducted, it can be used to dispel incorrect and unscrupulous claims that smoking restrictions hurt local economies. Educational Experience: Methods for economic analysis of smoke-free policies will be presented. Findings of economic analysis will be presented in a way that is accessible to advocates and policymakers. Strategies to fight the public relations battle with tobacco companies – over erroneous information and scare tactics – will be addressed. Benefits: Attendees will learn the basics of economic analysis of smoke-free policies and how to interpret and present findings to non-technical audiences. Attendees will understand strategies used by tobacco companies that attempt to present biased information as opposition to smoke-free policies. Attendees will learn strategies to use data to fight public relations battles with tobacco companies.