Smoking bans ‘have increased wellbeing’

The smoking ban across the UK has increased the wellbeing of many, with married women with children having benefited the most, new research suggests.

Scientists from Lancaster University looked at the benefits to the general public from the smoking bans, which came into force in Scotland in 2006 and England in 2007.

The legislation made it illegal for people to smoke in enclosed public spaces like pubs and restaurants.

Researchers found the benefits of the smoking ban were not restricted to those who smoked, but were also enjoyed by nonsmokers.

For the study, Dr Eugenio Zucchelli and his team looked at people’s own assessments of their psychological well-being both before and after the introduction of the bans in Scotland and England. Researchers looked at data from the British Household Panel Survey to estimate the impact of the bans. The research also looked at the impact on occasional smokers and non-smokers, whether single or in a couple.

Dr Zucchelli said: “We find smoking bans appear to have a statistically significant short-term positive impact on the well-being of married individuals, especially among women with dependent children.”