Social-cognitive beliefs, alcohol, and tobacco use: a prospective community study of change following a ban on smoking in public places.

Objective: To examine social-cognitive change associated with behavior change after the introduction of a smoke-free public places policy.

Design: Adults (N = 583) who use public houses licensed to sell alcohol (pubs) completed questionnaires assessing alcohol and tobacco consumption and social-cognitive beliefs 2 months prior to the introduction of the smoking ban in England on July 1, 2007. Longitudinal follow-up (N = 272) was 3 months after the introduction of the ban.