Why did Swiss citizens refuse a comprehensive second-hand smoke ban?

• Published in: Swiss medical weekly Vol. 144; no. 2930; p. w13983
• Main Authors: Durham, André-Dante, Diethelm, Pascal, Cornuz, Jacques
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland SMW supporting association (Trägerverein Swiss Medical Weekly SMW) 24.07.2014
• Subjects: Air Pollution, Indoor - legislation & jurisprudence; Air Pollution, Indoor - prevention & control; Attitude to Health; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health Policy; Humans; Politics; Public Opinion; Public Policy; Smoking - economics; Smoking - legislation & jurisprudence; Switzerland; Tobacco Smoke Pollution; Tobacco Smoke Pollution - legislation & jurisprudence; Tobacco Smoke Pollution - prevention & control; Switzerland
• DOI: 10.4414/smw.2014.13983
• ISSN: 1424-7860

The ill effects of second-hand smoke are now well documented. To protect the population from exposure to tobacco smoke, comprehensive smoking bans are necessary as expressed in the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and its guidelines. Switzerland has only a partial smoking ban full of exceptions which has been in effect since 2010, which reproduces the so-called Spanish model. In September 2012, the Swiss citizens refused a proposal for a more comprehensive ban. This case study examines the reasons behind this rejection and draws some lessons that can be learnt from it.