Does Washington State's Smoking Ban Promote Teen Smoking?

I am in favour of ban of teen smiking. Not only teen smoking should be banned but also smoking by anybody should be banned.

Well said that man.

Business owners should decide how to operate their own business. If you don't like a restaurant with smokers, go to a non-smoking establishment, or, stay home. And anyone who buys the second home smoke research, don't see the agenda paid for by the control freaks. We are well on our way to becoming a socialist-quasi communist country, due to the government babysitter mentality, and way too many people afraid to live and enjoy their life (and let others). If you anal socialists were so concerned about life and death issues, you would abolish driving altogether.
Not likely to happen, you haven't been brainwashed on a continuous basis that driving around in metal tonnage is dangerous to all.

Washington is that anal.
nice point of view.
I agree with the no smoking in bars is gay. I live next to a bar in bellingham that is about to be shut down because he does not obey the law about no smoking in the bar. He allows it for his customers and the police office is having a cow.

Smoking bans and bans in general are giving a much stronger message than just smoking to our teens. They are giving the message that you know longer live in a free society.
They are giving them the message to start rebelling at an earlier age so their freedom to partake in legal behaviors are not infringed upon.

By alcohol not being banned and bars allowed to sell a mind altering substance it is also giving the message drinking is ok.

Hence we have had many experiences with college students dying from 21 shots and your dead.

These bans and the people backing them are mindless, they must of partaken too much LSD in their lives because they are ruining our country in the name of saving it.

I see your point. I think the whole teen thing is a little radical, but I feell i should be able to go to safeway on my way to a party and not arrive smelling like a cigarette

Since the ban on smoking in public places began in the UK it is refreshing as a non-smoker to come home after an evening out not stinking of smoke, not feeling like you have been sucking on a car's exhaust, not having eyes which feel sticky, and having been able to enjoy your food without getting the flavour of second hand smoke mixed with it. So I have felt the benefit...

But the point I wanted to make is that when you see the people huddled outside in the rain smoking you have to wonder if so many people will continue to smoke. I think making it more difficult for people will reduce the number of smokers over time.

I have to agree the smoking ban is a good thing, it means coming home without smelling like an old ashtray. I have noticed that the ban has drastically reduced the amount of people in the local pubs, we went to what was once a busy pub on a Friday evening and found 2 people at the bar and this was during a karaoke night, so for sure even though the ban is great for us non smokers, its killing the pub trade in the UK

Though it's is forbidden to smoke in public here (Serbia), people are still doing it regardless of where they are, and I guess until someone gets arrested or has to pay for it, people will still be doing it

Smoking bans may be active in many Countries, but this will not stop heavy smokers from ignoring it, untill governments enforce these banns they woont work. To date i know of no smoking ban in the USA or UK that has been enforced your the power of the law.

Numerous research studies have shown that sociocultural factors influence the initiation and continued use of alcohol and tobacco among adolescents and adults. Few studies have examined the effects of sociocultural factors on the tendency of smokers to drink and drinkers to smoke. However, the limited evidence available suggests that such factors exist and that the strength of the association between alcohol and tobacco use behaviors varies with the levels of alcohol use. Public health interventions focused on concurrent tobacco and alcohol use could yield further reductions in the morbidity and mortality associated with these substances. KEY WORDS: sociocultural AODC (causes of alcohol or other drug [AOD] use, abuse, and dependence); sociocultural aspects of AOD use; smoking; AOD use initiation; adolescent; family as an AODC; peer group; adult; AOD abstinence; public health

Research indicates that sociocultural factors influence the initiation and continued use of alcohol and tobacco among adolescents and adults. Few studies have examined the effects of sociocultural factors on the tendency of smokers to drink and drinkers to smoke. However, the limited evidence available suggests that such factors exist and that the strength of the association between alcohol and tobacco use behaviors varies with the levels of alcohol use.

This article first reviews research on the sociocultural factors that influence whether adolescents begin smoking and/or drinking. The article then discusses similar mechanisms that may sustain alcohol and tobacco use among adults. Some sociocultural factors influence smoking and drinking across much of the adult population. Other factors that predict continued tobacco use among adults might differ for alcohol abstainers, moderate drinkers, heavy drinkers, and recovering alcoholics.

Although this article discusses adolescent and adult populations separately, a strong, positive relationship exists between alcohol and tobacco use in both age groups. Results from the 1997 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA] 199 indicated that among the respondents ages 12 to 17 as...

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Until the laws actually get applied, and we see some serious ways of punishment the people will be ignoring it.

Epos is right!

Although smoking bans do help stop public smoking it's going to be hard to
influence heavy smokers in any way...

Smokers find it very hard to quit, and I did aswell.

In my own experience of quitting (I managed to quit quite easily -- BOOYAH! after using something which I won't explain here) I think it's important to realise...

And admit to yourself that you actually DO have a fear of not smoking.

The second thing that is VERY VITAL to this is to actually put in the effort...

By this I mean make a goal and then STICK TO THE GOAL.

FORGET about patches, gum, hypnosis, therapy and all this other crap...

I think the real secret is...

Admitting you have a problem, putting in some hard work, setting a pratical goal and then working towards it is how you will quit...

It's how I quit.

Ok I think my comment is getting a little long long but one more thing...

LET'S TAKE DOWN THIS NICOTINE SON OF A GUN!

haha I'm in a weird mood aren't I...

Pete

Oh yeah, visit my site... I have a 96% success rate in helping people quit so yeahhh...

http://QuittingMadeEasy.com/

1. It's okay. 2. It's a group activity. 3. Cool people do it. So why not light up?
those conclusions that you think teens might come up with are largely unproven.
I agree there are more people smoking on the streets than before the law, and it irritates me too. But think you've got nicers dining environment and the people working inside the restaurants need not suffer from lung cancer. Also, think kids understand by imposing such law, the government is against smoking, and parents have more say to their kids 'see, there's a law' there. Now you can't see results yet. Adults are smoking on streets. DOn't know if 10years since the law will number of smokers decrease or not cos we have a law here to educate the young. But it's better than nothing.

definitely not. You mean having people smoking on streets would let kids follow such bad example more than if the smokers smoke inside? How is that even possible? This is a legislation so obviously against smoking and discourages smoking. It sends a very clear message to kids.

I think it's wrong for non-smokers to go in a bar or any public place for the matter, and be forced to second-hand smoke because the place is crawling with people addicted to this dirty habit.

I do not think this kind of thing would promote teenagers to smoke cigarettes. Although some people do believe that this law can have this kind of effect.

I give away a fantastic eBook about "How To Quit Smoking in 7 Days" - For Absoultly Free - A proven working method. check it at http://www.StopSmokingFree.org Jeff Trikoleti

straight from Washington state department of health, the URL to prove it.
http://www.doh.wa.gov/publicat/2007_news/07-012.htm

For immediate release: January 24, 2007 (07-012)

Contacts:
Tim Church, Communications Office 360-236-4077

Sales of tobacco to minors continue to drop
95 percent of Washington state retailers comply with the law

OLYMPIA — The sale of tobacco to minors in Washington has dropped by more than half since 2000, according to a new report. Ninety-five percent of tobacco retailers in Washington are now complying with the law that bans the sale of tobacco to anyone under 18. Officials credit a shift in attitude toward protecting youth from tobacco use, improved education about the legal requirements of tobacco sales, and more cooperation from retailers.

"I’m extremely pleased that retailers are working with us and doing their part to help protect the health of Washingtonians. This is great news for the health of our kids," said Governor Chris Gregoire. "Many adult smokers started smoking when they were young; and if we can keep tobacco away from kids, they will develop into non-smoking, healthier adults."

Authorities perform random checks of retailers to look for stores violating tobacco laws by selling cigarettes, spit tobacco, and other tobacco products to youth. The results are published in the annual Synar Report. The latest information shows tobacco sales to minors in Washington are down to about 5 percent in 2006. That means about 95 percent of stores checked are making sure they only sell tobacco to people 18 years and older. That’s up significantly since 1999 when 88 percent were complying with the law.

"Making it tough for kids to get tobacco is one of the keys to lowering youth smoking rates," said Secretary of Health Mary Selecky. "By making cigarettes harder to get, fewer kids will take up this habit, which will give them a much better chance of a longer, healthier life."

States are required to prohibit retailers from selling or distributing tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18. This is done through random, unannounced inspections to ensure compliance with the law. In Washington, local health agencies and the state Liquor Control Board work with youth under the age of 18, who test compliance by attempting to buy cigarettes and other tobacco products. Liquor Control Board enforcement officers also conduct tobacco compliance checks across the state as a part of their agency’s tobacco compliance program.

State and local health officials support retailers by providing them information about legal requirements and display regulations, and by offering training for employees on how to comply with the law. These partnerships with retailers across the state, along with changing attitudes about protecting youth from tobacco use, have led to fewer tobacco sales to minors. The recent results reinforce findings in the 2004 Healthy Youth Survey. In that report, the number of 10th graders who said it is "sort of" or "very hard" to get tobacco, increased from under 17 percent to 46 percent.

In the past five years, smoking rates have decreased among youth by 48 percent, and there are 65,000 fewer youth smokers in the state. While Washington has made significant headway in lowering smoking rates, there is still work to do. The tobacco industry spends more than $185 million each year in the state to hook smokers and about 45 youth start smoking each day. As it gets more difficult for youth to purchase tobacco from stores, kids turn to social sources, such as older friends, family members and other adults to obtain tobacco. The Department of Health is working with its partners to produce new programs and informational materials to discourage adults from providing tobacco to minors.

Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death in the nation. Tobacco-related diseases kill about 8,000 people every year in Washington — more than AIDS, alcohol, drug abuse, car crashes, murders, suicides and fires combined.

We all thought that in the UK, but now life without smoke in pubs/clubs is fantastic. I dont think many in the UK would go back to smoking in clubs or pubs.

elle.

A ban is not enough when it comes to stoping the trend. Just want to add that every smoker should have a strong desire to quit. Without this, all effort to stop smoking willl be futile.

I myself have switched to an e-cigarette. Im concerned that they may be taken up by minors, however for adults they are a far better alternative to smoking a real cigarette. The brand that I like has a lot of info about e-cigs in general on their website - thevapormaster.com