Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio are considering clean air ordinances that could ban smoking in public places, said Ed Rivera, spokesperson for the Texas Department of Health. He said voluntary efforts are not likely to be effective. Like seat belt and drunk driving laws before it, a smoking ban initially may face resistance, but ultimately will prove effective, Macara said. Smoking rates in Great Britain are slightly higher than in the United States. The BMA says 29 percent of British men and 28 percent of British women smoke, compared to 27 percent of American men and 23 percent of American women.
Smoking is on the increase among young people in both countries.