An Association Between State Laws Limiting Local Control and Community Smoke-Free Indoor Air in the United States.

This study examines the association between state laws limiting local control (preemption laws) and local smoke-free policies. We utilized policy data from the American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation. The primary outcome variable is the presence of a "100% smoke-free policy," across any of 4 indoor settings: workplaces, restaurants, bars, and gaming venues. We employed generalized structural equation modeling to investigate the relationship between state laws pre-empting smoke-free indoor air regulation and local adoption of policies requiring smoke-free air in any public venues, or for specific venues, adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics. Our findings reveal a significant association between state preemption laws and the presence of a local 100% smoke-free indoor policy as of 2023. In states with preemption laws, cities were less likely to have a 100% smoke-free indoor policy at any venue than cities in states without preemption laws (OR = 0.07, 95% CI = 0.05-0.10). When considering specific smoke-free venues, cities in states with preemption laws were less likely to have a 100% smoke-free indoor policy covering workplaces (OR = 0.05, 95% CI = 0.03-0.09), restaurants (OR = 0.04, 95% CI = 0.02-0.07), bars (OR = 0.04, 95% CI = 0.03-0.08), and gaming venues (OR = 0.03, 95% CI = 0.01-0.09) compared to cities in states without preemption laws. Our study suggests that state preemption laws limit local decision-making and the implementation of public health policies focused on tobacco harms.

Assessing the Validity of Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labels for Evaluating the Healthiness of Mediterranean Food Choices: A Global Comparison.

In response to growing public health concerns, governments worldwide have implemented various nutrition labelling schemes to promote healthier eating habits. This study aimed to assess the consistency and effectiveness of these labels in an out-of-home context, specifically focusing on restaurant, hospitality, and institutional food service settings. In total, 178 different dishes from Spain were analysed using labels from the Mazocco method, the UK's traffic light system, the Health Star Rating (Australia), Nutri-Score (France), multiple traffic lights (Ecuador), and warning labels (Chile and Uruguay). The results demonstrated a generally low level of agreement among these labels (K < 0.40), indicating notable variability and a lack of consensus, which could hinder consumers' ability to make informed food choices in out-of-home settings. Nutri-Score classified the highest number of dishes as unhealthy (38%). This study underscores the need for an easy-to-understand labelling system tailored to each country's culinary and socio-cultural contexts to improve consumer decision-making in various dining environments. Future research should focus on developing and testing qualitative methods to more accurately gauge the nutritional quality of cooked dishes in diverse out-of-home settings, thereby enhancing public health outcomes. By addressing the specific needs of the home, restaurants, hospitality, and institutional food services, tailored labelling schemes could significantly improve consumers' ability to make healthier food choices.

tRF-BERT: A transformative approach to aspect-based sentiment analysis in the bengali language.

In recent years, the surge in reviews and comments on newspapers and social media has made sentiment analysis a focal point of interest for researchers. Sentiment analysis is also gaining popularity in the Bengali language. However, Aspect-Based Sentiment Analysis is considered a difficult task in the Bengali language due to the shortage of perfectly labeled datasets and the complex variations in the Bengali language. This study used two open-source benchmark datasets of the Bengali language, Cricket, and Restaurant, for our Aspect-Based Sentiment Analysis task. The original work was based on the Random Forest, Support Vector Machine, K-Nearest Neighbors, and Convolutional Neural Network models. In this work, we used the Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers, the Robustly Optimized BERT Approach, and our proposed hybrid transformative Random Forest and Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (tRF-BERT) models to compare the results with the existing work. After comparing the results, we can clearly see that all the models used in our work achieved better results than any of the previous works on the same dataset. Amongst them, our proposed transformative Random Forest and Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers achieved the highest F1 score and accuracy. The accuracy and F1 score of aspect detection for the Cricket dataset were 0.89 and 0.85, respectively, and for the Restaurant dataset were 0.92 and 0.89 respectively.

Impact on beer sales of removing the pint serving size: An A-B-A reversal trial in pubs, bars, and restaurants in England.

BACKGROUND: Smaller serving sizes could contribute towards reducing alcohol consumption across populations and thereby decrease the risk of 7 cancers and other diseases. To our knowledge, the current study is the first to assess the impact on beer, lager, and cider sales (hereafter, for ease, referred to just as "beer sales") of removing the largest draught serving size (1 imperial pint) from the options available in licensed premises under real-word conditions. METHODS AND FINDINGS: The study was conducted between February and May 2023, in 13 licensed premises in England. It used an A-B-A reversal design, set over 3 consecutive 4-weekly periods with "A" representing the nonintervention periods during which standard serving sizes were served, and "B" representing the intervention period when the largest serving size of draught beer (1 imperial pint (568 ml)) was removed from existing ranges so that the largest size available was two-thirds of a pint. Where two-third pints were not served, the intervention included introducing this serving size in conjunction with removing the pint serving size. The primary outcome was the mean daily volume of all beer sold, including draught, bottles, and cans (in ml), extracted from electronic sales data. Secondary outcomes were mean daily volume of wine sold (ml) and daily revenue (£). Thirteen premises completed the study, 12 of which did so per protocol and were included in the primary analysis. After adjusting for prespecified covariates, the intervention resulted in a mean daily change of -2,769 ml (95% CI [-4,188, -1,578] p < 0.001) or -9.7% (95% CI [-13.5%, -6.1%] in beer sold. The daily volume of wine sold increased during the intervention period by 232 ml (95% CI [13, 487], p = 0.035) or 7.2% (95% CI [0.4%, 14.5%]). Daily revenues decreased by 5.0% (95% CI [9.6%, -0.3%], p = 0.038). CONCLUSIONS: Removing the largest serving size (the imperial pint) for draught beer reduced the volume of beer sold. Given the potential of this intervention to reduce alcohol consumption, it merits consideration in alcohol control policies. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN.com ISRCTN18365249.

Barriers and Enablers for Equitable Healthy Food Access in Baltimore Carryout Restaurants: A Qualitative Study in Healthy Food Priority Areas.

Black neighborhoods in the U.S., historically subjected to redlining, face inequitable access to resources necessary for health, including healthy food options. This study aims to identify the enablers and barriers to promoting equitable healthy food access in small, independently owned carryout restaurants in under-resourced neighborhoods to address health disparities. Thirteen in-depth interviews were conducted with restaurant owners in purposively sampled neighborhoods within Healthy Food Priority Areas (HFPAs) from March to August 2023. The qualitative data were analyzed using inductive coding and thematic analysis with Taguette software (Version 1.4.1). Four key thematic domains emerged: interpersonal, sociocultural, business, and policy drivers. Owners expressed mixed perspectives on customers' preferences for healthy food, with some perceiving a community desire for healthier options, while others did not. Owners' care for the community and their multicultural backgrounds were identified as potential enablers for tailoring culturally diverse menus to meet the dietary needs and preferences of their clientele. Conversely, profit motives and cost-related considerations were identified as barriers to purchasing and promoting healthy food. Additionally, owners voiced concerns about taxation, policy and regulation, information access challenges, and investment disparities affecting small business operations in HFPAs. Small restaurant businesses in under-resourced neighborhoods face both opportunities and challenges in enhancing community health and well-being. Interventions and policies should be culturally sensitive, provide funding, and offer clearer guidance to help these businesses overcome barriers and access resources needed for an equitable, healthy food environment.

The relationship between price and nutritional balance for young adults in the menus of Japanese restaurants.

Background: Eating habits are a contributing factor to obesity. Higher-priced menu items have better nutritional quality/balance, as the relationship between the price of food per serving and nutritional quality/balance has been reported. However, previous studies on the nutritional content of restaurant menu items did not focus on the relationship between the nutritional balance of menu items and prices. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate this relationship. Methods: The nutritional balance score (NBS) was defined and calculated according to each nutritional criterion of men and women aged 18-29 years, covering more than 2,000 menu items in 26 Japanese restaurant chains. Furthermore, NBS distribution by gender and restaurant brand, and the relationship between the menu item's NBS and price were assessed. Results: The results showed that the average NBS of the analyzed menu items differed between the criteria for men and women, with the menu items assessed based on men's criterion being more nutritionally balanced on average. The compositions of the top 10 menu items differed between men and women, and most were set menus or rice bowl menus, which were offered by fast-food restaurants. The relationship between price and NBS in most fast-food and casual restaurants was expressed as a concave function. The maximum NBS based on the criteria for men and women were 64.9 and 64.1, with prices of 639.9 and 530.3 yen, respectively. Discussion: NBS score increased with price to a certain level before decreasing, suggesting that the price at which NBS was the highest differed between men and women. The results of this study could contribute to the development of a methodology for healthy eating out practices, with a focus on price.

Diet Quality of Community Café Meals Among Guests With Food Insecurity.

OBJECTIVE: Compare the diet quality of a meal consumed at a community café (café meals), a pay-what-you-can restaurant, to a meal consumed for an equivalent eating occasion on the day before (comparison meal) by guests with food insecurity. METHODS: Dietary recalls were collected from café guests with food insecurity to determine the Healthy Eating Index-2020 (HEI-2020) total and component scores. Healthy Eating Index-2020 scores were compared between meals using paired-sample t tests and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. RESULTS: Most participants (n = 40; 80% male; 42.5% Black) had very low food security (70.0%). Café meal had a higher HEI-2020 total score (46.7 ± 10.5 vs 34.4 ± 11.6; P < 0.001) and total vegetables (2.6 ± 2.0 vs 1.2 ± 1.7; P = 0.004), total fruits (2.1 ± 2.2 vs 0.6 ± 1.5; P < 0.001), whole fruits (1.6 ± 2.0 vs 0.3 ± 0.9; P < 0.001), and refined grains (7.8 ± 3.5 vs 3.9 ± 3.9; P < 0.001) scores than comparison meals. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: The café meal had better diet quality than the comparison meal, suggesting its potential for improving diet quality among guests with food insecurity.

Exploring the sugar-sweetened beverage tax (SSBT) pass-through rate in the Irish hospitality sector.

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization (WHO) supports the use of Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Taxes (SSBTs) as a fiscal lever to help reduce sugar consumption and tackle obesity. Obesity is associated with a range of adverse health outcomes. In response to increasing levels of obesity in Ireland, an SSBT was introduced in 2018. Previous research in Ireland has noted that the pass-through rate of the SSBT in retail (off-site consumption) settings was poor. However, to date, no research has examined the SSBT pass-through rate in hospitality (on-site consumption) venues in Ireland. METHODS: This research examines the SSBT pass-through rate on Coca-Cola versus diet versions of Coca-Cola in a convenience sample of 100 hospitality venues in two provincial Irish cities. RESULTS: Wilcoxon signed rank test analysis revealed that regular Coca-Cola was significantly more expensive compared to the price charged for diet versions of Coca-Cola. However, in 85.6% of cases the same price was charged for both full-sugar and sugar-free drinks. The mean pass-through rate of the SSBT was 33.8%. CONCLUSION: The effective functioning of the SSBT is premised on persistent price differences between soft drink prices based on sugar content. However, this is barely evident in the hospitality sector in Ireland. A number of recommendations are suggested, including both increasing the SSBT, and increasing it annually in line with inflation.

Second-Hand Tobacco Smoke Exposure: Results of Particulate Matter (PM2.5) Measurements at Hospitality Venues in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

INTRODUCTION: In Ethiopia, a comprehensive smoke-free law that bans smoking in all public areas has been implemented since 2019. This study aimed to evaluate compliance with these laws by measuring the air quality and conducting covert observations at 154 hospitality venues (HVs) in Addis Ababa. METHODS: Indoor air quality was measured using Dylos air quality monitors during the peak hours of the venues, with concentrations of particulate matter <2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5) used as a marker of second-hand tobacco smoke. A standardized checklist was used to assess compliance with smoke-free laws during the same peak hours. The average PM2.5 concentrations were classified as good, moderate, unhealthy for sensitive groups, unhealthy for all, or hazardous using the World Health Organization's (WHO) standard air quality index breakpoints. RESULTS: Only 23.6% of the venues complied with all smoke-free laws indicators. Additionally, cigarette and shisha smoking were observed at the HVs. Overall, 63.9% (95% confidence interval: 56-72%) of the HVs had PM2.5 concentrations greater than 15 µg/m3. The presence of more than one cigarette smoker in the venue, observing shisha equipment in the indoor space, and the sale of tobacco products in the indoor space were significantly associated with higher median PM2.5 concentration levels (p < 0.005). Hazardous level of PM2.5 concentrations-100 times greater than the WHO standard-were recorded at HVs where several people were smoking shisha and cigarettes. CONCLUSIONS: Most HVs had PM2.5 concentrations that exceeded the WHO average air quality standard. Stricter enforcement of smoke-free laws is necessary, particularly for bars and nightclubs/lounges.

Long-term effects of an alcohol prevention program at licensed premises: a Swedish 20-year follow-up study.

Background: In 1996, a multicomponent community-based alcohol prevention program in Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) targeting licensed premises was developed by STAD (Stockholm Prevents Alcohol and Drug Problems) and implemented in Stockholm, Sweden. The program consists of community mobilization and collaboration, training, and enforcement. Early evaluations have shown a significant increase in the refusal rates of alcohol service to intoxicated patrons, from 5% in 1996 to 70% in 2001, and a 29% decrease in the frequency of police-reported violence. A cost-effectiveness analysis showed a cost-saving ratio of 1:39. The program was institutionalized by a collaborative steering group consisting of community stakeholders. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term effects over 20 years of the RBS program. The indicator chosen was the rate of alcohol overserving to obviously intoxicated patrons at licensed premises in Stockholm. Methods: A 20-year follow-up study was conducted using the same procedure as the baseline and previous follow-ups. Professional male actors (pseudopatrons) were trained by an expert panel to enact a standardized scene of obvious alcohol-intoxication. In 2016, 146 licensed premises located in the central part of Stockholm were randomly selected and visited. A review of program implementation from its initiation 1996 was conducted, examining critical events, including commitment from key actors in the community, training of bar staff, and enforcement. Results: At the 20-year follow-up, pseudopatrons were refused alcohol service in 76.7% of the attempts, which was at the same level (70%) as in the follow-up in 2001, thus indicating sustained effects of the RBS program. Compared with previous follow-ups, serving staff used more active intervention techniques in 2016 toward intoxicated patrons, such as refusing to take the order (56.9% in 2016 vs. 42.0% in 2001), and fewer passive techniques, such as ignoring patrons (6.5% in 2016 vs. 15.5% in 1999) or contacting a colleague (4.1% in 2016 vs. 25% in 2001). Conclusion: The sustained long-term effects of the RBS program are unique and can be explained by the high level of institutionalization of the multicomponent program, which is still ongoing in Stockholm. These findings can inform the dissemination of the program to other countries and settings.