BERKSHIRE COUNTY, MA – A new Massachusetts study says teens who live in towns with strict smoking bans in restaurants are 40 percent less likely to become regular smokers.
Researchers say these findings support the idea that smoking bans discourage regular tobacco use by teens by sending the message that smoking is looked down upon by the community. The study tracked over 2,700 kids between the ages of 12 to 17 who live in Massachusetts. They were monitored by researches for about four years to find out how many became regular smokers.
In Berkshire County, a new Massachusetts study on restaurant smoking bans suggests a role in persuading teens not to pick up the habit. Our Ryan Burgess explains.
Now, the study did find that age and having a parent who smokes also factor into kids decisions on whether or not to smoke.