Smoking ban 'may have cut number of teenage girls taking up the habit'

Researchers from the Welsh Government, the University of Glasgow, and the University of Stirling examined smoking among 13 and 15-year-old boys and girls from all four countries of the UK.

Using health research questionnaires they were able to monitor smoking trends over a number of years.The study found the ban on smoking indoors has had an impact on the number of 15-year-old girls taking up the habit.

The ban on smoking in all enclosed public places and workplaces, including bars, restaurants and public transportation was introduced in Scotland in March 2006, then in Wales and Northern Ireland in April 2007 and in England in July 2007.

The study, published in Nicotine and Tobacco Research, noted there was a reduction in regular smoking following the ban, but the reduction was only statistically significant for 15-year-old girls.In this group the ban was associated with a reduction in regular smoking by 4.3%. The authors also found the prevalence of regular smoking fell by an additional 1.5% per annum post-legislation among girls this age.