In a special report published in the July 2008 issues of Lancet Oncology, scientists reported that smoke-free policies in many Western countries have been effective in lowering the number of smokers and bringing about subsequent health benefits..

In February 2009, the International Agency for Research on Cancer will publish a handbook focusing on the effects of smoke-free policies. Scientists from the IARC found that bans on smoking haven't had adverse financial effects on restaurants and bars. Studies have consistently demonstrated that secondhand smoke is reduced by 80-90% in high-exposure settings which have implemented smoke-free policies. This reduction in passive exposure has led to a reduction in respiratory symptoms and complications of heart disease. It is also expected to result in a decline in lung cancer.

The handbook will also include a chapter about the tobacco industry's response to smoke-free legislation. Although most of this research on smoking bans was performed in high-resource Western countries, the apparent effectiveness of smoke-free policies suggests that expansion of this type of legislation to other countries would certainly be a breath of fresh air in improving the public health.