Does the type of CIA policy significantly affect bar and restaurant employment in Minnesota cities?

Intensive longitudinal modelling predicts diurnal activity of salivary alpha-amylase

Salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) activity has been widely used in psychological and medical research as a surrogate marker of sympathetic nervous system activation, though its utility remains controversial. The aim of this work was to compare alternative intensive longitudinal models of sAA data: (a) a traditional model, where sAA is a function of hour (hr) and hr squared (sAA_j,t= f(hr, hr²), and (b) an autoregressive model, where values of sAA are a function of previous values (sAA_j,t= f(sAA_j,t-1, sAA_j,t-2, …, sAA_j,t-p). Nineteen normal subjects (9 males and 10 females) participated in the experiments and measurements were performed every hr between 9:00 and 21:00 hr. Thus, a total of 13 measurements were obtained per participant. The Napierian logarithm of the enzymatic activity of sAA was analysed. Data showed that a second-order autoregressive (AR(2)) model was more parsimonious and fitted better than the traditional multilevel quadratic model. Therefore, sAA follows a process whereby, to forecast its value at any given time, sAA values one and two hr prior to that time (sAA _j,t= f(SAA_j,t-1, SAA_j,t-2) are most predictive, thus indicating that sAA has its own inertia, with a “memory” of the two previous hr. These novel findings highlight the relevance of intensive longitudinal models in physiological data analysis and have considerable implications for physiological and biobehavioural research involving sAA measurements and other stress-related biomarkers.

Effects of clean indoor air laws on bar and restaurant revenue in Minnesota cities

BACKGROUND

In recent years, local governments have strengthened laws to prohibit smoking in bars and restaurants to promote patron and employee health. Because of concerns that clean indoor air policies could have negative economic effects on some hospitality businesses, some cities have adopted partial clean indoor air policies (e.g., exempting bars).

PURPOSE

This paper considers how partial and comprehensive smokefree policies affected bar and restaurant revenue, using quarterly data reported to the Minnesota Department of Revenue.

METHODS

Data from ten Minnesota cities from 2003 to 2007 were used to conduct a time-series analysis in 2009, adjusting for the population size of each city.

RESULTS

Bars and restaurants governed by either partial or comprehensive policies had slightly higher revenues than those not regulated by any local clean indoor air policy. Bars and restaurants governed by partial local bans reported 0.009% higher total revenue (p = 0.5) and 0.052% higher liquor sales revenue (p = 0.003) than those not covered by a ban. Bars and restaurants governed by comprehensive local bans reported 0.026% higher total revenue (p = 0.05) and 0.018% higher liquor sales revenue (p = 0.35).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that smoking bans, whether comprehensive or partial, do not have a negative effect on bar and restaurant total or liquor revenues and may be associated with slightly higher revenue compared to not having a clean indoor air policy.

Employment change for bars and restaurants following a statewide clean indoor air policy

BACKGROUND

Clean indoor air policies have been adopted to protect employees in all workplaces from exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. Despite numerous studies where no significant economic effects were associated with clean indoor air policies, concerns persist that such policies will have a severe, negative effect on alcohol-licensed businesses.

PURPOSE

This study examines the effect of a comprehensive, statewide clean indoor air law on bar and restaurant employment in Minnesota as a whole, as well as by region in the state.

METHODS

Interrupted time-series analyses were conducted separately on bar and restaurant employment between 2004 and 2008 using data reported by businesses to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. The statewide clean indoor air policy was implemented October 2007; analyses were conducted in 2009.

RESULTS

After accounting for changes in employment in all other sectors for the state as a whole, there were no significant changes in statewide bar or restaurant employment associated with the state-level clean indoor air policy. Additionally, no significant changes were observed in regional bar or restaurant employment following enactment of the clean indoor air policy.

CONCLUSIONS

Enactment of a comprehensive clean indoor air policy in Minnesota did not result in significant changes in bar or restaurant employment in rural or urban regions of the state or the state as a whole. In Minnesota, neither bars nor restaurants were associated with significant changes in employment following the enactment of a comprehensive, statewide clean indoor air policy.