Law in practice: Obstacles to a smokefree workplace policy in bars serving Asian patrons

摘要

The California smokefree workplace ordinance (AB13) has been well-received, even in bars where deeply-established traditions of smoking may exist. However, a closer investigation of bars where indoor smoking persists reveals that bar workers in some immigrant communities continue to be exposed to secondhand smoke in their workplaces. To identify sociocultural factors that may impede the adoption of AB13, 150 observations and 29 qualitative interviews were conducted in 50 California bars serving Asian patrons. Observers witnessed indoor smoking in 82% of the bars. Interviews revealed that social relationships, social interactions, and confrontation avoidance complicated the positive reception of AB13 within these bars. By understanding the implications of sociocultural factors on policy, we provide a nuanced understanding of the challenges involved in implementing tobacco control policy in diverse settings, which may help inform future policy development and implementation in other jurisdictions.