Exposure to tobacco smoke in Finnish restaurants

The 1995 revision of the Finnish Tobacco Act restricted smoking at workplaces and, due to the tightening of the legislation, there has been a significant decrease in employees' exposure to tobacco smoke at work. Restaurants were included in the Tobacco Act in the March of 2000, and the requirements of the legislation have become effective gradually. This article reviews the results of three questionnaire surveys targeted at hotel and restaurant personnel in 1999-2003. The purpose of the study was to assess the effects of the changes in the Finnish Tobacco Act on exposure to tobacco smoke at restaurants. The study reinforced the preconceptions on the heavy smoking by restaurant personnel, and their continuing and serious exposure to tobacco smoke at work.