Clean Indoor Air Consequences (CIAC)

The CIAC study is evaluating potential consequences of clean indoor air ordinances.  By looking at data from 10 Minnesota communities with varying levels of indoor smoking regulation, the study is examining impacts on revenue and employment in bars and restaurants, numbers and types of alcohol-serving businesses, and crime near these establishments.

The Clean Indoor Air Consequences (CIAC) Study takes advantage of a natural experiment occurring in Minnesota, whereby some communities have adopted ordinances banning smoking in all restaurants and bars, others have adopted ordinances with exemptions, and others have not adopted any clean indoor air ordinance. Researchers will analyze monthly data on employment and crime, quarterly reports of taxable revenue, and annual counts of on-sale alcohol businesses from January 2003 through December 2007 for 10 cities in Minnesota. Measurements will be compared over time and between communities. CIAC is funded through a grant from ClearWay Minnesota.

Research Study Staff

Jean Forster, PhD, MPH is the Principal Investigator for the CIAC study. Jean oversees all aspects of the project including design, data analysis, and presentation of findings. She has numerous publications on public health policy as a prevention strategy and tobacco use and regulation. Jean teaches courses in public health policy and legislative advocacy skills for public health.

Co-Investigators are Darin Erickson, PhD and Traci Toomey, PhD.

Natalie Collins, MPH is the CIAC Project Coordinator. Her background is in public health and municipal government. Natalie coordinates the day-to-day activities of CIAC, including collecting data from state and local agencies, formatting project databases, and managing the project budget.

Liz Klein, MPH, is a doctoral student in the behavioral epidemiology program at the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health. As the Research Assistant with CIAC, she is involved in data collection and analysis.