{"content":"

Bans\/restrictions on smoking in public and work places<\/h3>
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The most extensive clean indoor air laws prohibit smoking in work places, on public transport, and in other public places, including restaurants and bars. Smoke-free workplaces not only protect non-smokers, they also create an environment that encourages smokers to cut down or stop. A review of 26 studies of the effect of smoke-free workplaces concluded that totally smoke-free workplaces are associated with reduction in prevalence of about 4%.7 People in work places that changed to\u2014or maintained\u2014smoke-free policies between 1993 and 2001 were almost twice as likely to stop smoking than people whose work places did not do so. In Europe, bans on smoking in the workplace (including bars and restaurants) have been introduced in Ireland (March 2004), Norway (June 2004), Italy (January 2005), Malta (April 2005), Sweden (June 2005), and Scotland (March 2006). Figures released by the Office of the Revenue Commissioners show a 15% fall in cigarette sales during 2004 in Ireland. They said: \u2018\u2018this shortfall reflected changes in smoking patterns, which were affected by, amongst other things, the introduction of the smoke free workplace legislation\u2019\u2019 The Irish cigarette smoking prevalence data bear this out, falling from 25.5% in March 2004 to 23.6% in August 2005.10 Italy also saw a decline: 28.3 million kg of cigarettes were sold in January\u2013April 2005, compared with 31.1 million kg in the same period in 2004, a 9% reduction.<\/p>\r\n<\/div><\/section>","hash":"19bf6bc3dee72ee4015666f666613e8a","css":"","js":""}