Impact of Smoke-Free Legislation on Bar Workers in Ireland
Author Information
Author(s): Lisa Pursell, Shane Allwright, Diarmuid O'Donovan, Gillian Paul, Alan Kelly, Bernie J Mullally, Maureen D'Eath
Primary Institution: National University of Ireland, Galway
Hypothesis
What are the perceptions of bar workers regarding the impact of smoke-free workplace legislation before and after its implementation?
Conclusion
Smoke-free legislation had the support of three-quarters of a large sample of bar workers in the ROI, but they also held complex views with both positive and negative perspectives.
Supporting Evidence
- Support for the legislation increased from 59.5% pre-implementation to 76.8% post-implementation.
- Support among smokers increased by 27.3 percentage points after the legislation.
- Over 90% of participants agreed that the legislation was needed to protect workers' health post-implementation.
- Negative perceptions about the impact on business increased after the legislation was implemented.
Takeaway
The law that banned smoking in bars was mostly liked by bar workers, but they also worried about how it might hurt business.
Methodology
Bar workers from public houses in three areas of the ROI were surveyed before and after the smoke-free legislation was implemented.
Potential Biases
Participants may have responded in a way they thought was expected, potentially skewing results.
Limitations
The study sample comprised mostly volunteers, which may not be generalizable, and some participants were lost to follow-up.
Participant Demographics
Participants included bar workers from urban and rural areas, with a mix of smokers and non-smokers.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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