Robert C Jones and John L. Bennett. Tobacco Prevention Program, Public Health- Seattle and King County, 999 3rd Avenue, Suite 900, Seattle, WA 98104, 206-296-7613, colin.jones@metrokc.gov

Objective: Provide public health organizations with a method to reduce secondhand smoke exposure in public places while changing the social norms in places that are perceived as smoke-friendly.

Methods: A focus group of restaurant owners was conducted to determine the messages and messengers that would be most effective in moving restaurant owners toward voluntary smoke-free policies. The direction and focus of the campaign are based largely on restaurant owner feedback from the focus groups.

Pierce and King County conducted two studies within their respective jurisdictions. One study measured awareness of the dangers of secondhand smoke and the overall support for smoking bans among bar patrons (n=1574) in both counties. The other measured awareness of the dangers of secondhand smoke and the overall support for smoking bans among food handlers (n=1168) in both counties.

Results: King County has experienced a higher level of voluntary bans than Pierce County. King County noted more support for banning smoking in all workplaces. Voluntary smoke-free campaigns can play an integral role in changing social norms and reducing secondhand smoke exposure. Our data indicates that a law banning smoking in all public places is necessary to further increase the number of smoke-free public places in King County. While voluntary campaigns offer immediate protection against secondhand smoke, the ban also serves to reduce pressure to legislate the issue.

Conclusions: While not as sweeping or as cost-effective as a complete smoking ban in public places, voluntary smoke-free restaurant campaigns are a useful tool to initiate social norm change.

Learning Objectives:

• Create a voluntary smoke-free restaurnat campaign.
• Identify the three major stages a restaurant goes through before it can become smoke-free.
• Prioritize a restaurant campaign to most efficiently allocate resources.
• Assess the success of a voluntary restaurant campaign.

Keywords: , Tobacco Policy

Related Web page: www.metrokc.gov/health/tobacco.htm

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.