Government studies show health benefits of workplace smoking bans in Ireland and Norway.

In March 2004, Ireland became the first nation to enact a ban on smoking inside enclosed workplaces, including bars, restaurants, and nightclubs. Three months later, Norway joined Ireland in enacting a total workplace ban. One year after these bans took effect, reports from both governments lauded the health effects of the measures.

In March 2005, the Irish Office of Tobacco Control released a study of worker health, which was assessed before the ban and again one year after. Researchers found that air quality in bars had improved dramatically, with larger airborne particulate matter falling 53 percent and smaller particulate matter falling 88 percent, settling at a level similar to that found in non-smoking homes. Moreover, levels of carbon monoxide in non-smoking workers' blood decreased 43 percent.

The Norwegian study found similar positive results: airborne particulate matter declined 70 percent in bars and restaurants, and nicotine levels in the urine of non-smoking workers decreased nearly 90 percent. Additionally, lung function in non-smoking workers improved, while respiratory symptoms such as coughs and shortness of breath declined by about one-third.

While some critics of workplace bans argue that the public opposes these measures as infringements on freedom, polls often show overwhelming support for the bans. Recent polls reveal that 80 percent of French people surveyed, and 73 percent of English and Welsh, favor bans. And support appears to continue after implementation. According to a survey linked with the Irish report, one year after the ban's adoption, 93 percent of people continue to believe it is a good idea, 96 percent feel that the law is a success, and 98 percent think that workplaces are now healthier.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]