Resources For
Smoke-Free
This section provides everything you need to effectively communicate about how smoke-free laws that ban smoking in all indoor public places, workplaces, and public transport are an essential component of a strategy to reduce tobacco use.
Facts-Figures
38% of Indian Workers Have Been Exposed to Smoke at Home
38.7% of Indian adults have been exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke at home.
January 1, 2016Number of Adults Exposed to Secondhand Smoke
1.2 billion adults are exposed to secondhand smoke in public places.
May 28, 2015Number of Adults Attempting to Quit Smoking
205 million adults made an attempt to quit smoking in the past 12 months.
May 28, 2015Smoke-Free Laws Improve Public Health
Smoke-free laws improve public health by reducing the public’s exposure to secondhand smoke, helping smokers reduce cigarette consumption, and helping smokers quit.
November 1, 2014Smoke-Free Laws Do Not Harm the Hospitality Industry
Smoke-free laws do not harm the hospitality industry. In fact, in some countries smoke-free laws have been shown to benefit the economy.
November 1, 2014Smoke-Free Laws Are Feasible for Every Country
Smoke-free laws are feasible for every country regardless of culture, climate, and income level.
November 1, 2014There is No Safe Level of Secondhand Smoke Exposure
There is no safe level of secondhand smoke exposure. Exposure to secondhand smoke causes death, disease, and disability among non-smoking adults and children.
November 1, 2014Those in Smoke-Free Environments Are Healthier
Adults exposed to secondhand smoke in the workplace are at greater risk for developing tobacco-related health problems than adults who work in smoke-free environments.
November 1, 2014Women & Children Are Disproportionately Harmed by Secondhand Smoke
Women and children are disproportionately harmed by secondhand smoke due to their increased exposure from male smokers.
November 1, 2014Smoke-Free Laws Save Lives
Smoke-free laws save lives, protect workers’ health, and immediately improve public health.
November 1, 2014Exposure to Secondhand Smoke Increases Healthcare and Medical Costs
Exposure to secondhand smoke increases healthcare and medical costs.
November 1, 2014Almost Half of Children Breathe Air Polluted by Tobacco in Public
Almost half of children regularly breathe air polluted by tobacco smoke in public places.
May 1, 2014In 2004, Children Accounted for 28% of Secondhand Smoke Deaths
In 2004, children accounted for 28% of the deaths attributable to secondhand smoke.
May 1, 2014More Than 1 Billion People Are Protected By Smoke-Free Laws
Over 1 billion people, or 16% of the world’s population, are protected by comprehensive national smoke-free laws.
May 1, 2014Nearly 7 in 10 Adult Pakistanis Are Exposed to Smoke in the Workplace
About 7 in 10 adults in Pakistan (16.8 million people), who work indoors, have been exposed to tobacco smoke at the workplace.
January 1, 2014Secondhand Smoke Kills More Than 600,000 People Worldwide Annually
Secondhand smoke kills more than 600,000 people worldwide each year, including 165,000 children.
January 1, 201151.3% Indonesian Adults Have Been Exposed to Smoke in the Workplace
51.3% adults in Indonesia (14.6 million people) have been exposed to tobacco smoke at the workplace.
January 1, 201178.4% Adults in Indonesia Have Been Exposed to Smoke at Home
78.4% adults in Indonesia (133.3 million people) have been exposed to tobacco smoke at home.
January 1, 201185% Indonesian Adults Have Been Exposed to Smoke at Restaurants
85.4% of adults in Indonesia (44 million people) who have visited restaurants, have been exposed to tobacco smoke.
January 1, 2011Impact of Secondhand Smoke Exposure on Children in the U.K.
In the United Kingdom, exposure to secondhand smoke among children costs at least £9.7 million each year in primary care visits and asthma treatment, £13.6 million in hospital admissions, and £4 million on asthma drugs for children up to the age of 16.
January 1, 2010Impact of Secondhand Smoke Exposure on Women and Children
Of all deaths attributable to secondhand smoke, approximately 47% occur among non-smoking women and 27% occur among non-smoking children.
January 1, 2010Impact of Arizona’s Smoke-Free Law on Hospital Admissions
During the year following implementation of Arizona’s statewide smoke-free law in 2007, hospital admissions decreased for acute heart attacks by 13%, for unstable angina by 33%, for stroke by 14%, and for asthma by 22%.
January 1, 2010Impact of Scotland’s Smoke-Free Law on Hospital Admissions
A study comparing the average hospital admissions for asthma 6 years before and 3 years after Scotland’s 2006 smoke-free legislation found that hospital admissions for asthma dropped 15% among children (age <15).
January 1, 2010Smoke-Free Law in Minnesota Did Not Impact Retail Sales
In the state of Minnesota, there was no significant change in bar or restaurant employment in both rural and urban regions following local smoke-free laws.
January 1, 201050% of Chinese Workers Are Exposed to Smoke in the Workplace
5 in 10 Chinese adults have been exposed to tobacco smoke at the workplace.
January 1, 2010Revenues for Bars Increased After Washington Smoke-Free Law
Two years after the smoke-free law was implemented in the state of Washington, sales revenues were $105.5 million USD higher than expected for bars and taverns.
January 1, 2010Smoke-Free Laws Resulted in Large Declines in Indoor Air Pollution
A review of the implementation of smoke-free laws in multiple locations found that the level of indoor air pollution declined by 71%–99% after the implementation of local, state, or national smoke-free legislation in New York, Massachusetts, Delaware, Hawaii, Scotland, Ireland, England, Finland, and Italy.
January 1, 2010Impact of Smoke-Free Laws on Air Quality in Uruguay
In Uruguay, air nicotine concentration (a byproduct of smoking) fell by an average of 91% among the public places tested (schools, hospitals, government buildings airports, restaurants, and bars) after the implementation of their national smoke-free law.
January 1, 2010Number of People Exposed to Secondhand Smoke Worldwide
Globally, an estimated 33% of non-smoking males, 35% of non-smoking females, and 40% of children are exposed to secondhand smoke indoors.
January 1, 2010Impact of Secondhand Smoke Exposure on Restaurant Workers in Singapore
A 2008 survey of restaurant employees in Shanghai found that 66% of workers exposed to secondhand smoke experienced at least one respiratory symptom, such as difficulty breathing, increased phlegm, and sore throat.
January 1, 200960% of Every Day Smokers in Mexico Quit This Year
60% of every day smokers in Mexico quit during the year.
January 1, 2009Over 19% of Mexican Workers Have Been Exposed to Smoke at Work
19.7% of Mexican adults (3.8 million people) have been exposed to tobacco smoke at the workplace.
January 1, 2009
Over 12% of Mexicans Have Been Exposed to Smoke at Home
12.6% of Mexican adults have been exposed to tobacco smoke at home.
January 1, 2009Impact of Secondhand Smoke Exposure on Children
Among children exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke, there is a 50–100% higher risk of acute respiratory illness, higher incidence of ear infections and an increased likelihood of developmental disabilities and behavioral problems.
January 1, 200960% of Current Smokers in Russia Plan to Quit
60% of current smokers in Russia plan to, or are thinking about quitting.
January 1, 2009Over 60% of Egyptian Workers Have Been Exposed to Smoke in the Workplace
60.7% of Egyptian adults (6.5 million people ) have been exposed to tobacco smoke in the workplace.
January 1, 2009Over 34% of Russian Workers Have Been Exposed to Secondhand Smoke
34.9% of Russian workers (21.9 million people) have been exposed to tobacco smoke at their workplace.
January 1, 2009Over 81% of Egyptian Workers Have Been Exposed to Smoke at Home
81.5% of Egyptian adults have been exposed to tobacco smoke at home in the past month.
January 1, 200935% of Every Day Smokers in Poland Tried to Quit This Past Year
35% of every day smokers in Poland made an attempt to quit this past year.
January 1, 200950% of Smokers in Poland Plan on Quitting Smoking
5 in 10 smokers in Poland plan to or are thinking about quitting.
January 1, 200944% of People in Poland Have Been Exposed to Smoke at Home
44.2% of adults in Poland (14.1 million people) have been exposed to tobacco smoke at home.
January 1, 200933% of Polish Workers Have Been Exposed to Secondhand Smoke at Work
33% of Polish workers (4.3 million people) have been exposed to tobacco smoke at their workplace.
January 1, 20097 in 10 Bangladeshi Smokers Plan on Quitting This Year
7 in 10 smokers in Bangladesh plan on or are thinking about quitting this year.
January 1, 200987% of Polish Non-Smokers Have Been Exposed to Smoke at a Bar
87.6% of Polish non-smokers have been exposed to secondhand smoke at a bar.
January 1, 200963% of Bangladeshi Workers Have Been Exposed to Smoke in the Workplace
63% of Bangladeshi workers (11.5 million adults) have been exposed to tobacco smoke at the workplace.
January 1, 200950% of Polish Non-Smokers Have Been Exposed to Smoke at Restaurants
50% of Polish non-smokers have been exposed to secondhand smoke at restaurants.
January 1, 20094% of Smokers in the Philippines Successfully Quit This Year
4% of smokers in the Philippines successful quit smoking in the last 12 months.
January 1, 200921% of Filipino Workers Have Been Exposed to Secondhand Smoke
21.5% Filipino workers (6.1 million adults) have been exposed to tobacco smoke at their workplace in the past month.
January 1, 2009