[Perception over smoke-free policies amongst bar and restaurant representatives in central Mexico]

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the perceptions and appreciations over smoke-free environments of restaurant and bar managers from four cities in central Mexico. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Managers from 219 restaurants and bars from Mexico City, Colima, Cuernavaca and Toluca were surveyed about smoke-free environments opinions and implementation. Simultaneously, environmental nicotine was monitored. RESULTS: The majority of surveyed managers considered public places should be smoke-free, although more than half were concerned with potential economic loses. Implementation of smoke-free environments was more frequent in Mexico City (85.4%) than in the other cities (15.3% overall), with consequently lower environmental nicotine concentrations. CONCLUSION: Managers acknowledge the need to create smoke-free environments. Concerns over economic negative effects derived from the prohibition could explain, at least partially, the rejection of this sector towards the implementation of this type of policy