Scottish smoking ban is good for bar workers

10th February 2009, 1:40pm

Bar workers in Scotland are benefiting from the smoking ban, according to a new study out today.

The Bar Workers' Health and Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure (BHETSE) Study monitored the impact of Scotland's smoking ban on the health of a sample of smoking and non-smoking bar workers from bars in five areas of Scotland.

Following over 190 bar workers from over 70 bars over a 12 month period and found that the percentage of these workers reporting respiratory symptoms, such as wheezing, shortness of breath, cough and phlegm production, fell from 69% to 57%, within one year of their workplaces becoming smoke-free.

The proportion of bar workers reporting at least one sensory symptom, such as irritated eyes and sore throat, also fell from 75% to 64% post-ban.

Dr Sean Semple, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine at the University of Aberdeen, was project manager for the study. He said: "These findings confirm that the air quality in pubs can have an impact on respiratory health and the Scottish smoke-free legislation has resulted in improvements in the respiratory health of the majority of bar workers, smokers and non-smokers alike."

Related Articles:

• 23 Mar 2009 - Smoking ban to blame for pub industry failures

Click here to submit a comment!

adrian

14 August 2009 at 4:22pm

This study is incomplete. It should also take into account the health disbenefits suffered by those previously employed in the pub trade but have lost their jobs since the smoking ban. It should also take into account the health disbenefits suffered by those who can no longer enjoy smoking and socialising in a pub. Lets ban sugar in food and cars and save alot more lives.(Ironic). When social policy is made by those who do not consider the whole picture, harm is often done in other areas. The smoking ban is a tragic despoiler of lives and the economy.

Ray

23 September 2009 at 6:10pm

Of course the percentage will drop. If half of them are now unemployed, due to the smoking ban failure, what do you expect the percentage to be?????

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