Smoking most prevalent among workers in food service, accommodation: report

Atlanta – Workers in the accommodation and food service industries have the highest prevalence of cigarette smoking, according to research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

CDC examined National Health Interview Survey data from 2011 to 2013 and found that 25.9 percent of accommodation and food service workers smoked, compared to 17.3 percent among other workers. Prevalence was highest among:

• Men
• 25- to 44-year-olds
• Non-Hispanic whites
• People who have been working for less than five years
• People with less education
• People below the poverty level
• People with no health insurance

The Department of Health and Human Services’ Healthy People 2020 campaign is aiming to have no more than 12 percent of adults smoke. Employers, businesses, worker representatives and trade associations can collaborate with health departments on policies and programs to reduce smoking among workers, the report concludes.

The research was published in the July 31 issue of CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.