Public attitudes toward smoking bans in a tobacco-producing county

Allen County, KY, is a rural county with a population of approximately 18,000. The county has a tobacco crop and is in a state in which tobacco interests are influential. The tobacco control program at the public health department developed a goal to reduce environmental tobacco smoke by restricting smoking in public places. To progress toward that goal, a public opinion poll was conducted to determine citizens' views regarding smoking restrictions in the county courthouse.

A telephone survey was conducted using the Allen County telephone directory as a sampling frame. The survey instrument included questions on support for smoking restrictions in the courthouse, restaurants, and workplaces as well as support for increasing Kentucky's cigarette tax. Interviews with 374 individuals--53.6% of the initial sample--were completed.

Banning all smoking in the Allen County Courthouse was supported by 163 (43.4%) of the respondents. Designated smoking areas were supported by 168 (44.7%) of the respondents. Twenty-four (6.4%) of the respondents opposed any smoking restrictions at the courthouse. Women were more likely to support a ban on all smoking at the courthouse (45.4% compared with 40%). Males were more likely to support designated smoking areas (46.2% of males versus 43.8% of females). There was a small association between opposition to smoking restrictions at the courthouse and smoking by the respondent. An increase in Kentucky's cigarette tax was supported by 132 (35.1%) of the respondents and opposed by 184 (48.9%). There was no association between ownership of a tobacco-farming allotment and opinion regarding any of the tobacco control measures.

Most Allen County residents support some form of restriction on smoking in public places (including the county courthouse and restaurants) and in workplaces. Only approximately one-third, however, supported an increase in the cigarette tax, perhaps reflecting a general antitax feeling. Ownership of tobacco allotments does not appear to be an important factor in determining attitudes on smoking control issues.