University of Toronto study finds people are more likely to cut down or quit if they cannot smoke at work
A ban on smoking in the workplace not only helps non-smokers, but also cuts down on the amount of cigarettes smokers have during the day, according to new research out of the University of Toronto.
“Usually, the reason given for banning smoking in the workplace is to benefit non-smokers and this is a valid and important reason,” said Thomas Stephens of the University of Toronto’s Ontario Tobacco Research Unit. “What this study shows is that the bans also have health benefits for smokers themselves.”
Researchers found that employees in workplaces with no restrictions smoke nearly five more cigarettes daily than those that completely ban smoking.
“A lot of people assume smokers in smoke-free workplaces compensate for being without cigarettes while at work by smoking more at lunch, during breaks or after work,” said Stephens. “But overall they don’t. People are more likely to cut down or to give up cigarettes.”
Pulling data from Statistics Canada, researchers found that 24 per cent of employees across the country smoke on a daily basis. On average, that group lights up 17 times per day.
But in workplaces where smoking is banned, 18 per cent of workers smoke daily and their average consumption drops to 15.4 cigarettes per day. That compares favourably to a workplace with no restrictions, where 40 per cent of workers are daily smokers and average 20.1 cigarettes a day.
The Ontario Tobacco Research Unit is a unit of the University of Toronto’s Department of Public Health Sciences. It was established in 1993 with funding from the Ontario Ministry of Health to foster and conduct research, monitoring and evaluation contributing to programs and policies to eliminate tobacco-related health problems in Ontario. The unit’s co-sponsors include the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, the University of Toronto, the University of Waterloo and the University of Ottawa.
“Usually, the reason given for banning smoking in the workplace is to benefit non-smokers and this is a valid and important reason,” said Thomas Stephens of the University of Toronto’s Ontario Tobacco Research Unit. “What this study shows is that the bans also have health benefits for smokers themselves.”
Researchers found that employees in workplaces with no restrictions smoke nearly five more cigarettes daily than those that completely ban smoking.
“A lot of people assume smokers in smoke-free workplaces compensate for being without cigarettes while at work by smoking more at lunch, during breaks or after work,” said Stephens. “But overall they don’t. People are more likely to cut down or to give up cigarettes.”
Pulling data from Statistics Canada, researchers found that 24 per cent of employees across the country smoke on a daily basis. On average, that group lights up 17 times per day.
But in workplaces where smoking is banned, 18 per cent of workers smoke daily and their average consumption drops to 15.4 cigarettes per day. That compares favourably to a workplace with no restrictions, where 40 per cent of workers are daily smokers and average 20.1 cigarettes a day.
The Ontario Tobacco Research Unit is a unit of the University of Toronto’s Department of Public Health Sciences. It was established in 1993 with funding from the Ontario Ministry of Health to foster and conduct research, monitoring and evaluation contributing to programs and policies to eliminate tobacco-related health problems in Ontario. The unit’s co-sponsors include the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, the University of Toronto, the University of Waterloo and the University of Ottawa.
