ENVIRONMENTAL TOBACCO SMOKE AND SMOKING BY-LAWS IN THE NEW CITY OF OTTAWA

An Overview Of Survey Results From 1996, 1996/97,1999 and 2000

HIGHLIGHTS OF PUBLIC OPINION SURVEY

In November 2000, a public opinion survey found that a clear majority (74 per cent) of this city's population favours a by-law that would make all enclosed public places 100% smoke-free (meaning no allowance for designated smoking rooms). That number is up from 67 per cent just one year ago.

More detailed findings of the poll are:

1. Support for completely smoke-free restaurants is at 71 per cent, compared to 67 per cent a year ago. Most people polled want completely smoke-free bars (57 per cent, an increase from 50 per cent last year). A vast majority (81 per cent) also called, "the silent majority," who don't like second-hand smoke but feel uncomfortable speaking out about it.

2. Most people surveyed (60 per cent) said they would frequent restaurants more often if the establishments were smoke-free. Almost half would visit bars more often. The public is growing increasingly intolerant of second-hand smoke to the point where they stay away. Business owners have the potential to gain many new customers after implementation of stricter no-smoking by-laws. That's one reason numerous studies have found that profits generally don't decrease, and can even increase, when a community goes smoke-free.

2. Objectives

• discuss primary results from the 2000 Survey;
• highlight major trends that are evident from the four surveys that were done from 1996 to 2000.

3. Primary Results.

3.1 The sample of the 2000 Survey

The sample size was 504 respondents that consist of 47% males and 53% females. The majority speak English (74%), 16% French and 5% are bilingual. About 22% of households receive an annual income of less than $40 000-00 and 65% receive more than $40 000-00 annually. The sample population is fairly mature with only 10% respondents between 19 and 24 years (inclusive), 41% are between 25 and 44 years, 38% between 45 and 64 and 11% 65 years and older. Almost two thirds of the respondents (65%) completed post secondary education and another 10% post graduate education. Twenty one percent (21%) respondents completed their secondary education. About 59% of the respondents indicate that they do not have any children in their households whilst 38% still have children The majority of the respondents (83%) indicate that they are non-smokers, 4% smoke occasionally and 13% daily.

These demographic variables (gender, language, annual income, age, education, children in the household and smoker/non-smoker) are also used in the analysis to determine if significant differences exist with regard to awareness of the dangers of second-hand smoke, support for a 100% smoke-free by-law and the effects of smoking prohibitions on patronage too public places.

3.2 Awareness of dangers of second hand smoke

Results from the 2000 Survey indicate that the awareness of the dangers of second hand smoke is currently fairly high among the residents of RMOC. For example, about 84% of the respondents have the opinion that second-hand smoke causes lung cancer in non-smokers, 82% feel it relates to heart problems and 85% stated that it also causes bronchitis, emphysema and asthma. Approximately 96% of the respondents feel that pregnant women and others living with them, should not smoke in the home during the pregnancy and 95% believe that non-smokers should be provided with a smoke-free environment at work.

A slight increase in the awareness of the dangers of second-hand smoke is evident since 1996/97. The NPHS indicated at the time that 83% respondents thought that second-hand smoke causes lung cancer in non-smokers, 75% felt that it relates to heart problems and 76% agree that smoking can cause bronchitis, emphysema and asthma. About 93% of the respondents felt that pregnant women and others living with them, should not smoke in the home during the pregnancy and 93% believed that non-smokers should be provided with a smoke-free environment at work.

Dangers of second-hand smoke variables were analyzed by demographic variables. It seems that no or little significant differences exist except for the variable smoker/non-smoker. Smokers and non-smokers differ significantly on awareness issues of the dangers of second-hand smoke (p>0.05). For example, from the sample population about 75% smokers and 95% non-smokers agree that second-hand smoke can cause lung cancer in a non-smoker. About 68% smokers and 93% non-smokers agree that second-hand smoke can cause heart disease in a non-smoker. Furthermore, 88% smokers and 99% non-smokers agree that pregnant women and others living with them, should not smoke in the home during the pregnancy.

3.3 Support for a smoke-free by-law that will make all public places 100% smoke-free.

Overwhelming support for a 100% prohibitive smoking by-law exist currently among the residents of Ottawa-Carleton for the following public places: unlicensed daycare (85%), reception areas and waiting rooms (85%), food courts in shopping malls (82%), office environments or workplaces not open to the public (81%), taxi's (80%), arenas or recreation centres (80%) and lobbies and other common areas of buildings (80%).

Significant smoke-free support also exist for public places that endured some controversy in the past. They are: donut shops (76%), restaurants / café's (71%), bowling alleys (70%), neighborhood pubs (65%), bingo halls (64%), casinos (64%), pool halls (60%), bars / lounges that primarily serves drinks (57%) and race tracks (55%).

Data from the Angus Reid (1996) and Opinion Search (2000) surveys indicate an increase trend of support for 100% smoke-free public places since 1996. For example, support for smoke free bars / lounges increased from 49% to 57%, from 53% to 65% for pubs, 56% to 64% for bingo halls and 64% to 71% for restaurants / café's.

As expected, the greatest resistance to a 100% smoke-free by-law exist among people who smoke. Data from the 2000 Survey show that those who are against such a by-law are 81% smokers and 15% non-smokers. However, overall support for such a by-law increased from 67% to 74% among residents in the Regional Municipality of Ottawa Carleton between 1999 and 2000.

3.4 Effect of smoke free prohibition on patronage of certain public places.

Results from the 1999 and 2000 surveys indicate that smoking prohibition would not have a significant effect on respondent's patronage to public places. A majority of respondents sited "no difference" to establishments like race tracks, bingo halls, pool halls, bowling alleys, and casinos.

An increase of patronage to the following establishments were indicated by the majority of respondents. For each of them the values from the 1999 and 2000 surveys are reported respectively: Restaurants 52% & 60%, pubs 47% & 53%, food courts 49% & 51%, bars 37% & 45%.

Age, education and smoker/nonsmoker seem to be primary indicators of either support or opposition to 100% smoke-free establishments. Generally, both older respondents and those with at least a university degree are most likely to increase their patronage to certain types of establishments. The 1999 and 2000 surveys show that about 63% and 65% respondents respectively with at least a university degree would increase their patronage to restaurants compared to 32% and 24% less educated (high school and less) respondents. From the 2000 survey 78% of the smokers indicate that they would less often patronage smoke-free restaurants. This also applies to bars (82%), casinos (79%), race tracks (77%), pubs (76%), bowling halls (76%), and bingo halls (76%).

4. Conclusion.

Results from different surveys since 1996 indicate that there is a steady increase in the awareness about the dangers of second-hand smoke among the residents of RMOC.

A steadily increase in the support of a 100% smoke-free by-law among residents is also evident from these results. In fact, the support for such a by-law is currently at its highest. Support of more than 80% is reported for public places like unlicensed daycare, reception areas and waiting rooms, food courts in shopping malls, office environments or workplaces not open to the public, taxi's, arenas or recreation centres and lobbies and other common areas of buildings in the city. Support for smoke-free donut shops, bowling alleys, restaurants / café's, bingo halls, casinos, neighbourhood pubs, pool halls, race tracks and bars / lounges that primarily serves drinks varies between 55 and 76 percent.

Patronage to smoke-free establishments will only be affected by a minority of smokers who indicated that they will less often frequent such places. However, the majority of RMOC residents who are non-smokers, indicated that they would increase their patronage to smoke-free establishments.

Public Health and Long-Term Care Branch
City of Ottawa
January 01, 2001

References:

Opinion Search Inc. (2000). Smoking By-law Study. Highlight Report on Quantitative Research Findings. Ottawa: Author.

Opinion Search Inc. (1999). Smoking By-law Study Report. Ottawa: Author.

National Population Health Survey (NPHS). (1996/97)

Angus Reid Group Inc. (1996). No Smoking By-law Survey Report. Ottawa: Author.