INTRODUCTION

Diseases caused by cigarette smoking are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States and in North Carolina (N.C.)1. An estimated 485,000 Americans die of smoking-related illnesses annually, and one of five deaths that occur in the United States is related to cigarette smoking1. The U.S. Surgeon General definitively warned of the dangers of breathing others’ secondhand tobacco smoke in 19862. In 2006, the U.S. Surgeon General released a second report on involuntary smoking, which concluded that a person exposed to secondhand smoke at home or work has a 20% to 30% increased risk of developing lung cancer and a 25% to 30% increased risk of developing heart disease3. Even short-term exposure can cause heart attack4 or stroke1.

Smoke-free policies are interventions that, when implemented according to the evidence base, have been proven to: 1) reduce exposure to secondhand smoke, 2) reduce smoking rates, 3) increase the number of tobacco users who quit, 4) reduce the initiation of tobacco use among young people, and 5) reduce tobacco-related morbidity and mortality, including heart attacks5, 6. Such policies are notably less present in the Southern U.S. compared to other areas of the country7, and adoption of smoke-free policies appears to have stalled8.

On 2 January 2010, N.C. implemented a smoke-free law that prohibits cigarette smoking (and other products that burn tobacco) inside all restaurants and bars as well as inside hotels, lodges, inns, convenience stores, and other businesses that serve prepared food9. Since its passage, restaurants have been receptive to the smoke-free law10-12. In contrast, N.C. bars, which are by definition private clubs under state alcohol law, generally have not shown public support for the smoke-free law, and a number of bars fought and lost court battles to continue to allow smoking in their businesses11. Studies show the law has improved indoor air quality, reduced exposure to secondhand smoke at work, and improved community health status13. Economic studies of N.C.’s smoke-free law have had consistent results with those of other States, showing no impact – positive or negative – on restaurant and bar receipts or employment patterns14, 15.

How bars and restaurants experience the adoption of evidence-based clean indoor air policies may provide leverage in other Southern States that have not adopted comprehensive clean indoor air policies. No previous study has looked specifically at restaurants’ and bars’ response to the law five years after implementation. Documenting restaurant and bar owners’/managers’ receipt of complaints from customers and employees about the law and their perception of whether the law has delivered its promised benefits, is important for public health in recommending future legislation and programming. Additionally, policy interventions targeting exterior, outdoor spaces and the use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) could strengthen efforts to protect the health of the public. Understanding restaurant and bar owners’ and managers’ positions on these issues is critical to shaping future public health programs and future smoke-free and vapor-free public and private regulations.

As tobacco smoke is pushed out of restaurants and bars, nonsmoking customers are now in close proximity to smokers in many outdoor spaces, such as restaurant and bar decks and patios. The smoke-free law requires limited outdoor areas to be smoke-free, such as those that have a roof or covering and a certain percentage of enclosure. Unenclosed outdoor areas have thus become the default smoking areas of many bars and restaurants, potentially exposing patrons and employees to hazardous levels of secondhand tobacco smoke. In addition, the use of electronic cigarettes is increasing rapidly16. Adult 30-day use has been documented nationally at 3.3%17. The N.C. Youth Tobacco Survey documented a consistent shift from cigarette to e-cigarette use. As 30-day electronic cigarette use among N.C. high school students increased from 1.7% in 2011 to 16.8% in 2015, 30-day high school cigarette smoking decreased from 15.5% in 2011 to 9.3% in 201518. While the health effects of using ENDS or involuntarily breathing their aerosol (commonly called vapor) has not been fully documented, recent studies reveal concerning levels of hazardous contents in electronic cigarette aerosol19-22.

The purpose of this study is two-fold: 1) to assess whether, after five years of implementation of the N.C. smoke-free law, restaurant and bar owners and managers receive complaints about the law and whether they are experiencing the benefits promised when the law was first passed, and 2) to explore whether they are implementing policies that go beyond what is covered in the current law, specifically prohibiting the use of electronic cigarettes indoors and/or providing smoke-free seating areas for customers outside.

METHODS

In this descriptive, cross-sectional study, we conducted a mail survey of N.C. bars and restaurants in January 2015. Two sampling frames were used to identify restaurants and bars. For restaurants, we used a N.C. Department of Health and Human Services database of restaurants that receive local sanitation inspections. In December 2014 this database, which is updated quarterly, contained 14,044 operating restaurants. We excluded: fast food restaurant chains (all of which were voluntarily smoke-free before the law went into effect in 2010); school, college or business cafeterias; churches; food and convenience stores; take-out and delivery restaurants; ice cream shops; retirement or health care facilities; camps; prisons; and caterers. Also excluded were restaurants with out-of-state mailing addresses. The final sampling frame included 8,799 records. For the bar sampling frame, we used a N.C. ABC Commission licensing list of “private clubs” meaning they both; 1) hold a license to serve alcoholic beverages for consumption on-site, and 2) do not serve prepared food (that would require health department restaurant inspections, qualifying them for the restaurant list). The database, which is updated quarterly, contained 1,165 bars in December 2014. We excluded event venues, theaters, country clubs, fraternal organizations, airline/airport membership clubs, and organizations holding only temporary alcohol licenses. Also excluded were bars with out-of-state mailing addresses and the eight cigar bars that are exempt from the law. The final sampling frame for bars was 803.

The size of the sample was determined using Fluid Surveys online sample size calculator for prevalence with 5% margin of error in a known population size (i.e. 8,799 restaurants and 803 bars)23. Random samples were drawn using the random generator in Microsoft Excel, from two spreadsheets (one for restaurants and one for bars). Data were gathered using two 20-question pencil and paper surveys (one for restaurants and one for bars), which were mailed to random samples of 374 restaurant and 289 bar owners and managers (n = 663) across the state. The surveys were mailed to the “Owner or Manager” of each selected business and did not ask for identifying information from the individual completing the survey or the business the person represents. Participants were asked to return the completed surveys by mail using a pre-stamped return envelope that was included in the survey packet. No incentive was provided. We mailed a follow-up postcard approximately four weeks later to remind all recipients about the survey and request their participation.

Instrumentation

The questions on the two pencil and paper surveys (Appendix A, supplemental file) were divided into four sections: “Questions about the current law” (questions 1-6), “Questions about electronic cigarettes” (questions 7-11), “Questions about outside seating areas” (questions 12-14) and “Additional questions” (questions 15-20), including a final open-ended question. Questions two through five were drawn from a telephone survey conducted by Linnan et al.10. These questions assessed the owners/managers’ receipt of complaints from employees and customers about current tobacco-related policies. Questions six through twenty were created by the survey team and assessed for face validity by expert reviews, including N.C. Restaurant and Lodging Association (NCRLA) staff, NCRLA members, and N.C. Tobacco Prevention and Control Branch (TPCB) staff. Feedback was used to improve the survey.

The questions on the two surveys were nearly identical. Besides referencing “bars” instead of “restaurants” the only question difference was the question that asked each participant to identify benefits the business experienced from the smoke-free law. The restaurant version included “Increase in number of families coming in” as a response choice. This choice was not included on the bar survey, because bars are age-restricted businesses.

Data analysis

IBM’s Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software was used to analyze the responses from the first 19 questions on the surveys. Descriptive statistics were used to report the demographic characteristics of participants (i.e. job title, years in the N.C. hospitality industry, and smoking and/or electronic cigarette behavior) and the other survey questions. Chi-square tests were used to determine statistical significance when comparing restaurants’ and bars’ current policies on the use of electronic cigarettes indoors and smoke-free customer areas outdoors. The Institutional Review Board at the university where this research was conducted reviewed and exempted the study.

RESULTS

By 18 February 2015, 136 surveys had been returned. One survey was incomplete; therefore, it was not included in the analysis. The final sample was 135, which represents a return rate of 20.3% (23% for restaurants and 17% for bars). Assumptions concerning the representativeness of non-respondents are addressed in the Limitations section. The mean number of years the participants had worked in N.C.’s hospitality industry was 19, with a median of 16.5. Of those who completed the survey, 45.5% identified themselves as owners, 14.9% as managers, and 35.1% as owners/managers of their businesses. The remaining 3.7% reported their position as “other”. The current cigarette smoking rate of the participants was 22.2%, with 25.2% former smokers and 52.6% never smokers. A total of 9.6% of the participants reported having used an electronic cigarette in the last 30 days. All participants were familiar with the State’s smoke-free restaurants and bars law.

Complaints about law

As shown in Table 1, reported customer and employee complaints about secondhand smoke inside restaurants and bars overall were low, but were higher for bars. Complaints about having no place to smoke were higher for bars than for restaurants. The proportions of customer complaints about electronic cigarette use indoors were identical for customers and similar for employees in both restaurants and bars.

Table 1

Frequencies and Percentages of Customer and Employee Complaints Received in the Last 12 Months, N.C., 2015

ComplaintRestaurant (n=86) n (%)Bar (n=49) n (%)Total (n=135) n (%)
Complaints about Secondhand Smoke
From Customers1 (1.2%)4 (8.1%)5 (3.7%)
From Employees1 (1.2%)3 (6.1%)4 (3.0%)
Complaints about No Place to Smoke
From Customers5 (5.8%)32 (65.3%)37 (27.4%)
From Employees5 (5.8%)21 (53.1%)26 (19.3%)
Complaints about Electronic Cigarettes
From Customers14 (16.3%)8 (16.3%)22 (16.3%)
From Employees8 (9.3%)3 (6.1%)11 (8.1%)

Benefits of law

As shown in Table 2, the benefit experienced from the smoke-free law most selected by both restaurants and bars was “customers breathe less tobacco smoke”. Nearly 80% of the participating restaurants and more than 70% of the participating bars reported experiencing at least one benefit from the smoke-free law.

Table 2

Frequencies and Percentages of N.C. Restaurant/Bar Owners/Managers Reponses to Selecting Benefits from the Smoke-free Law from a Preset List, 2015

BenefitRestaurant (n=86)Bar(n=49)Total(n=135)
One or More Benefit(s) Endorsed67 (77.9%)36 (73.5%)103(76.3%)
Two or More Benefit(s) Endorsed52 (60.4%)28 (57.1%)80 (59.3%)
Customers Breathe Less Tobacco Smoke59 (68.6%)29 (59.2%)88 (65.2%)
Fewer Complaints About Secondhand Smoke54 (62.8%)25 (51.0%)79 (58.5%)
Decrease in Maintenance/Cleaning Cost37 (43.0%)25 (51.0%)62 (45.9%)
Improved Staff Health26 (30.2%)14 (28.6%)40 (29.6%)
Increased Staff Productivity18 (20.9%)8 (16.3%)26 (19.3%)
Increase in Number of Customers17 (19.8%)7 (14.3%)24 (17.8%)
More Families Coming In27 (31.4%)N/A-

Policies on the use of electronic cigarettes indoors

As shown in Table 3, among the restaurant owners and managers who responded to the survey, nearly half (46.1%) reported not allowing electronic cigarettes to be used inside their business, and a fifth more reported having inside designated areas for electronic cigarettes. A much lower percentage of bars responding to the survey reported not allowing electronic cigarette use inside (10.2%) or in indoor designated areas (12.2%). The Chi-square analysis results indicated that indoor electronic cigarette policies differ significantly between bars and restaurants (x2 = 25.065, p < .001).

Table 3.Restaurant and Bar Policies on Indoor Use of Electronic Cigarettes, as Reported by N.C. Restaurant and Bar Owners/Managers, 2015

PolicyRestaurant (n=76)* n (%)Bar (n=49) n (%)Total (n=125) n (%)
Not Allowed Inside35 (46.1%)5 (10.2%)40 (32.0%)
Allowed in Certain Areas Inside16 (21.1%)6 (12.2%)22 (17.6%)
Allowed Anywhere Inside25 (32.9%)38 (77.6%)63 (50.4%)
Total76 (100%)49 (100%)125 (100%)

(x2 = 25.065, p < .001)

* 10 restaurants did not respond to this question

Policies on outside seating areas for customers

Of the 100 survey respondents reporting having outdoor areas, one-third of restaurants (33.9%) and one-fifth of bars (21.1%) had some sort of policy restricting smoking outdoors. Chi-square test results showed no statistically significant difference in smoking restrictions in outdoor seating areas between bars and restaurants (x2 = 1.880, p < 0.170).

Additional feedback

Participants were asked to provide additional feedback not addressed in the survey. A total of 68 survey participants (50.4%) made at least one comment. Comments were nearly evenly split, with 40 positive and 44 negative about the smoke-free law. Negative comments were almost exclusively from bars. The most interesting comments drew attention to particular issues bars were having with the smoke-free law: 1) a perception that the law is not being enforced (at theircompetitors), 2) a lack of outdoor space for smoking, and 3) a lack of compliance by customers.

Bar owners expressed their belief that other bars were allowing smoking, drawing customers away from the law-abiding bars. These quotes are both from bars: “This law is not followed by competitors which results in unfair business competition. Law needs more enforcement” and “Law is not enforced. Establishments are knowingly violating the law or paying fines by [accepting] donations from patrons to do so.”

Approximately a quarter of survey participants reported not having an outdoor customer area. For bars, not having a place for smokers to go was described as a problem for business success under the smoke-free law. This quote is from a bar: “We would like to accommodate them by having a nice designated covered area outside, which our city will not allow. So when we have rain or bad weather it kills my business!!!”

Even five years into implementation a few bar owners/managers noted they are having difficulty getting their customers to comply with the smoke-free law. This quote is an example from a bar: “A lot of time I have to let people still smoke just so I can make money to keep my doors open.”

DISCUSSION

Earlier studies have shown that the N.C. smoke-free law has improved indoor air quality, reduced exposure to secondhand smoke at work, and improved community health status13. Additionally, economic studies examining the impacts of the law have proven similar to those in other States, showing no impact – positive or negative – on restaurant and bar receipts or employment patterns14, 15. This study adds to the body of knowledge on smoke-free laws, specifically in the hospitality industry, by exploring the perceptions and actions of bar and restaurant owners/managers in N.C. regarding the State’s smoke-free law five years into its implementation.

Most restaurants clearly perceive the impact of the law positively, and many bars also reported at least one of the law’s promised benefits, such as reduced customer complaints and exposure to secondhand smoke. Nearly 60% of participants selected as a benefit “fewer complaints about secondhand smoke,” which suggests that the smoke-free law has been successful in reducing both exposure to and customer complaints about secondhand smoke. A similar percentage of participants reported experiencing two or more benefits from the smoke-free law and nearly 30% reported perceived improvements in staff health as a benefit. These findings provide further evidence that the law has successfully reduced exposure to secondhand smoke to hospitality workers and patrons.

Polling data have shown high levels of public support for N.C.’s smoke-free law (at 83% in 2012)24; however, this does not demonstrate complete satisfaction by bar patrons with the law. Even after five years of law implementation, bar owners and managers in the present study report having received complaints in the last 12 months from smoking customers and employees about not having a place to smoke indoors. Previous studies suggest that bar patrons who smoke will adjust to the law as time passes25-27; however, based on the findings of this study, it appears that some N.C. smokers remain unsupportive.

More than half of the participants who did not report a benefit from the law own or manage a business that either opened after the law went into effect or were smoke-free prior to the law. Restaurants and bars that adopted smoke-free policies ahead of the law may have lost a competitive edge once all restaurants and bars became smoke-free, as many smoke-free restaurants and bars advertised their smoke-free status and were listed on local, state and national smoke-free dining guide websites.

This study uncovered a group of N.C. bars that continue to struggle with the smoke-free law, even five years after its launch. Many bars gave positive feedback about the law. However, there appear to be some bars in N.C. that have not made a smooth transition to smoke-free, some of them because they do not have access to an outdoor area suitable for smokers, and others because they have not changed their smoker-friendly business model.

Implications for research

This study suggests there are opportunities for future research to improve understanding of how owners’ and managers’ knowledge of and attitudes toward cigarette smoking may have changed over time. The participants in this study had a lower percentage of smokers (22.2% versus 31.0%) than were found by Linnan et al. in their study prior to passage of the law10. In fact, the current smoking rate of survey participants was only slightly higher than the smoking prevalence among all North Carolina adults28.

In addition, this study found current (30-day) use of electronic cigarettes among survey participants was 9.6%. While there are no available data for 30-day electronic cigarette use among N.C. adults, the most recent national data show a much lower rate of adult current electronic cigarette use (3.3%)17. Additional data are needed on all aspects of the use of these new products, including use among restaurant/bar employees and patrons.

Further qualitative research may help identify strategies for supporting bars in their transition to smoke-free business models. Focus groups or in-depth open-ended interviews with bar and restaurants owners and managers could be fruitful in understanding the specific issues the smoke-free law has raised, particularly for bars. This study found that some bar owners/managers noted increased business or no problems caused by the law, whereas others said the law “killed” their businesses. A qualitative research project could begin to shed understanding on what the differences are between bars that managed the change without suffering and those whose businesses suffered greatly.

Implications for practice

Results of this research show an opportunity for other Southern States to develop smoke-free restaurants and bars laws in order to move them closer to comprehensive smoke-free policies as recommended by the Community Preventive Services Task Force5. The fact that nearly eight of 10 restaurant respondents and more than two-thirds of bar respondents reported experiencing at least one of the promised benefits of the smoke-free law shows potential support and cooperation from restaurants and bars in other States. Strong interest in additional tobacco-related policies should encourage N.C. public health to develop educational programs that assist restaurants and bars with restricting the use of electronic cigarettes indoors and making outdoor customer areas smoke-free. According to Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights29, 11 States and 450 municipalities around the U.S. restrict the use of electronic cigarettes inside restaurants and bars. The study showed that 46.1% of restaurants already limit electronic cigarette use indoors, and 33.9% of restaurants and 21.1% of bars already have a smoking policy for outdoor customer areas. These findings suggest that programs aimed at extending these voluntary policies to more restaurants and bars might be well-received.

There may be an opportunity for local public health to reach out to local bars and see if there are remedies to some specific concerns raised by survey participants. Approximately a quarter of businesses responding to the survey reported having no outdoor customer areas. There may be an opportunity for local government, community colleges, or business support organizations to assist those businesses in creative solutions, including updated business models for smoke-free bars. Approaching bars that have successfully transitioned to smoke-free status to document their steps for success and sharing them with others would be one way to support bars that are still struggling with the transition.

Limitations

There are several limitations to this study. Self-selection for study participation could have had a significant impact on the results. Those receiving surveys with strong feelings about the smoke-free law – either positive or negative – were possibly more likely to complete the survey than were those in the sample with neutral feelings about the law. Also, data for this study were obtained through self-report. Due to the political nature of the topic, participants may not have truthfully answered the questions on the survey. Another limitation concerns the item used to assess the health of employees, as that question relied on the perception of the employer and that person might not be able to accurately perceive the health of his/her employees. In addition, since N.C. alcohol law is unique in how it defines restaurants and bars, the results of this study might not be generalizable to any other State that may have different legal definitions of these businesses. This study has important strengths, including use of a high quality-sampling frame and random sampling. Additionally, the use of a mail survey allowed participation for those without internet access and avoided sampling bias from telephone listings, as small businesses may not have a landline.

CONCLUSIONS

Results of this study show new ways N.C.’s smoke-free law has been successful. Specifically, restaurant and bar management is familiar with the law and almost all report compliance. More than half of the restaurants and bars in the study report as benefits delivered by the law the reduced exposure to and complaints about secondhand smoke. Other benefits from the law were noted as well, particularly reduced cleaning and maintenance costs and improved staff health. Most restaurants clearly perceive the impact of the law more positively, and many bars also made positive comments and reported receiving benefits from the law.

Some bars and restaurants in N.C. have proactively implemented voluntary policies to protect the health of their patrons and employees, including smoke-free outdoor customer areas and restricting electronic cigarette use indoors. Public health and its partners should move forward with programs to promote and support these changes in order to further protect the public’s health. Learning more about bars’ transitions and struggles can help other States and communities to deal with similar policy changes in the future, and perhaps discover ways to facilitate hospitality businesses make the transition to cleaner air.