Smoking policy in the workplace and other public places

In may 1989, the Council of Health Ministers of the European Community adopted a joint resolution which urges the 12 member states to adopt legislation restricting smoking in public places. European citizens support this action. A survey in March-April 1987 using a sample of 12,000 Europeans in the 12 member states concluded that 77% of European citizens want measures to ban smoking in public places. The conditions that are necessary to make a smoking policy successful in the workplace and other public places will be discussed. We want to stress that an information and awareness campaign before the enforcement of the smoking ban is the most important condition.