Smoking bans and offsetting effects

Ban smoking in restaurants and bars and children wind up being more exposed to second hand smoke.

Abstract

We evaluate the effect of smoking bans and excise taxes on the exposure to tobacco smoke of nonsmokers, and we show their unintended consequences on children. Smoking bans perversely increase nonsmokers' exposure by displacing smokers to private places where they contaminate nonsmokers. We exploit data on bio-samples of cotinine, time use, and smoking cessation, as well as state and time variation in anti-smoking policies across US states. We find that higher taxes are an efficient way to decrease exposure to tobacco smoke.

Except, of course, that smokers pay far more in tobacco taxes than they ever cost the health system; efficiency isn't the healthists' goal.

HT: Modeled Behavior, who also notes that the ideal citizen (who produces large positive externalities) will be a smoker...