Smoking bans help workers kick the habit

Workplace smoking bans not only help non-smokers, but also make smokers more likely to give up the habit, according to new research from Canada.

Academics at the University of Toronto’s Department of Public Health Sciences concluded that smoking bans reduce the total amount of cigarettes that smokers consume during the day.

Almost a quarter of Canadian workers are smokers, lighting up, on average, 17 times per day.

The researchers found that workplaces with no restrictions have 40% of workers as daily smokers consuming an average 20 cigarettes a day – nearly five more per day than those who were working in smoke-free environments.

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Smoke-free workplaces have 18% of workers who smoke daily, with an average consumption of 15.4 cigarettes per day.

Overall, the research shows that these smokers do not compensate by smoking more at breaks or after work, but rather that they reduce their consumption and are more likely to quit.