[thedoc (OP)]

The ban on smoking in public places in England has been linked to a 4.9% reduction in hospital admissions for adult asthma...

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[CliffordK]

Of course, smoking bans in restaurants, bars, and other public places is only part of the equation, as there is a lot of pressure to just quit that goes beyond the institutional bans.

Many of the smoking bans in public places in the USA are by city ordinance, so it would provide better controls to determine what works, and what doesn't work to get people to just put out the smokes.

The CDC has some interesting charts on US smoking, trends, and cancer.  So the question should be why the "quit ratio" tends to be higher in the West and Northeast states.

[dlorde]

The CDC has some interesting charts on US smoking, trends, and cancer.  So the question should be why the "quit ratio" tends to be higher in the West and Northeast states.

Could it be slight geographic differences in social attitudes across the states, e.g. differences in attitudes to social conformity and individuality/independence? Or is it just more uncomfortable to stand outside exposed to the weather in the West and Northeast?

[CliffordK]

Or is it just more uncomfortable to stand outside exposed to the weather in the West and Northeast?

Certainly half the year in Oregon & Washington is a little on the soggy side.

But, at least Southern California would have reasonably good weather to loiter outside year-around.

Social stigma & peer groups would certainly have a lot to do with it.