OBJECTIVES:

We examined the effect of local restaurant smoking regulations on restaurant environmental tobacco smoke exposure among youths.

METHODS:

We interviewed 3863 Massachusetts youths aged 12-17 years and ascertained how often they saw smokers in restaurants in their town. We assessed the effect of local restaurant smoking regulation strength on nonexposure to environmental tobacco smoke (seeing smokers never or only rarely).

RESULTS:

Compared with youths from towns with weak regulations, youths from towns with medium-strength regulations had 1.4 times the odds (odds ratio = 1.36; 95% confidence interval = 1.12, 1.65) and youths from towns with strong regulations had twice the odds (odds ratio = 2.03; 95% confidence interval = 1.64, 2.52) of reporting nonexposure.

CONCLUSIONS:

Strong local restaurant smoking regulations are associated with reduced environmental tobacco smoke exposure among youths