Tobacco control policies in outdoor areas of high volume American transit systems

J Community Health. 2014 Aug;39(4):660-7. doi: 10.1007/s10900-014-9873-3.

Abstract

Very little is known about how smoking and other tobacco use is regulated in outdoor and semi-enclosed spaces across transit systems. The purpose of this study was to understand how American transit systems are regulating cigarettes and other tobacco products, including smokeless tobacco and e-cigarettes, in outdoor or quasi-outdoor spaces. Within four regions of the United States, a purposive convenience sample was taken of the top five volume American transit systems (n = 20) based on annual ridership. Each transit authority website was systematically reviewed to produce a cross-sectional study of the published policies regarding tobacco product use for indoor, outdoor, and quasi-outdoor spaces of transit property; rules regarding cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and electronic cigarettes were identified. Policies regulating tobacco use were enacted by transit systems and/or the cities and states in which transit systems are located. The majority (80%) of transit systems banned smoking in outdoor areas; few prohibited smokeless tobacco use (15%, n = 3) and some disallowed e-cigarettes (30%, n = 6). Violation consequences ranged widely from none to verbal warnings, ejection from transit property, fines, and imprisonment. Regulating smoking in outdoor or quasi-outdoor environments is common in American transit environments. These policies can help protect vulnerable populations from exposure to secondhand smoke and communicate a tobacco-free norm.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems / standards
  • Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems / trends
  • Humans
  • Public Facilities / standards*
  • Public Facilities / statistics & numerical data
  • Smoke-Free Policy / trends*
  • Social Norms
  • Tobacco Products / standards*
  • Tobacco Products / statistics & numerical data
  • Tobacco Smoke Pollution / prevention & control*
  • Tobacco Use / prevention & control*
  • Transportation / methods
  • Transportation / standards*
  • Transportation / statistics & numerical data
  • United States

Substances

  • Tobacco Smoke Pollution