Attitudes of Olmsted County, Minnesota, residents about tobacco smoke in restaurants and bars.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the attitudes of Olmsted County, Minnesota, adults about environmental tobacco smoke in restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In this population survey,2014 adults were contacted by random digit dial methods between February 28 and May 5, 2000, and asked to participate in a telephone survey; 1224 (61%) consented. RESULTS: For the 57% (95% confidence interval [CI], 54%-60%) of the study population that reported exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, the most frequently reported sites of exposure were restaurants (44% [95% CI, 41%-48%]), work (21% [95% CI, 18%-24%]), and bars (19% [95% CI, 16%-22%]). Seventy-two percent (95% CI, 69%-74%) of respondents said that they would select a smoke-free restaurant over one where smoking is permitted, and 70% (95% CI, 67%-72%) said that they would select a smoke-free bar over one where smoking is permitted. The majority of respondents said that they would not dine out or visit bars or nightclubs more often or less often if all restaurants, bars, and nightclubs were smoke-free. CONCLUSIONS: Olmsted County residents prefer smoke-free restaurants, bars, and nightclubs.