In a study was showed that restaurant smoking bans may play a big role in persuading teenagers not become smokers. They found that, in states where smoking was prohibited, 40% of teens are less likely to become regular smokers than those in communities with no bans.

Dr. Michael Siegel, of Boston University School of Public Health, said that smoking bans could discourage tobacco use in teens only by sending the message that smoking is frowned upon in the community, or another step is to prohibit smoking in public places.

"When kids grow up in an environment where they don’t see smoking, they are going to think it’s not socially acceptable. If they perceive a lot of other people are smoking, they think it is normal," said Dr. Michael.

Siegel and his colleagues tracked 2,791 children between ages 12 and 17 who lived throughout Massachusetts. There were no statewide restrictions when the study began in 2001 but about 100 cities and towns had enacted a hodgepodge of laws restricting smoking in workplaces, bars or restaurants.

The teens were followed for four years to see how many tried smoking and how many eventually became smokers. The researchers found that about 9% of children became smokers, smokers which smoke more than 100 cigarettes. In towns without bans or where smoking was restricted in some areas, that rate was nearly 10%. But in places with tough bans prohibiting smoking in restaurants, just fewer than 8% of the teens became smokers.

Strong bans had a bigger influence on whether children grew into a habit, reducing their chances of becoming smokers by 40%.

Smoking bans had a greater effect on younger teens than on older teens, because age also plays a big role in smoking.

Many restaurant owners fought the ban, saying it could drive away clients, according to Janine Harrod, director of government affairs for the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, which represents 2,000 restaurant owners.

No one, even the antismoking campaigns can not find the reasons why young people are attracted in risky behaviors like smoking.

According to the World Health Organization at least 23 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico require most public places and workplaces, especially restaurants and bars, to be smoke free.