world
|
Although information is added when learned about, this website is dedicated to lists of smokefree entertainment, not to following legislation.
For more up-to-date information on legislation, please consult websites such as:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_smoking_bans_in_the_United_States
http://www.tobacco.org
STATES & TERRITORIES OF THE U.S.A.
This page reflects what SFW knows about US laws and does not mean the laws are followed or unchallenged. Laws differ from state to state. Most of the action is at the local level. Gentle corrections are welcome - following legislation is not the main purpose of this site. The site was started because the California smoking ban was not really respected for some years. [Nowadays restaurants, bars, clubs and bowling alleys are almost entirely smokefree.] For up-to-date legal information, try www.tobacco.org, www.smokefree.net or lungaction.org. SmokeFreeWorld is just a list of venues for use in planning entertainment (please call ahead as policies change).
Workplace: Smoking is generally, but not always banned in many workplaces, hospitals, government buildings, museums, schools and theatres.
Travel: Banned in train/bus stations, but enforcement is uneven. Banned on domestic airplanes. Many airports have smoking sections, and airport bars tend to be smoky, but this is becoming less common. Many hotels offer, but do not guarantee, 'nonsmoking' rooms. Sometimes this only means you are free not to smoke in yours - but the guest before you might have been smoking, and smoke might come in from next door.
Dining: These states ban smoking in restaurants and bars: California, Delaware, New York, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey (casinos exempted), Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. Montana banned smoking in restaurants - bars exempt till 2009. South Dakota had a ban - status unsure. In November 2006, Ohio and Nevada banned smoking in most public places; Arizona passed a similar ban, which takes effect May 2007. In January 2006 the Territory of Puerto Rico banned smoking in the workplace, including bars and casinos. Smoking in restaurants is banned in a number of cities and counties in other states, but is still common.
Chain restaurants often ban smoking, but this may depend on whether a restaurant is owned by the corporation or franchised to a local manager. "Pub-restaurants" often ban smoking, especially brew-pubs. Don't assume American beer is all Budweiser, come try our local beers! In California and Massachusetts you can enjoy beer and live music without the smoke).
Nightlife:
Smoking in bars and music venues is common.
The tobacco industry spends $$$$$$ to make smoking look hip. This makes it hard to find smokefree entertainment in many states. Exceptions: venues for classical music & (often) 'acoustic' music (everything from bluegrass to swing) tend to be non-smoking.
Business: You will make a better impression in either social or business situations if you ask before lighting up. Even if it's perfectly OK to smoke, people will appreciate your politeness.
| ALASKA |
2002: Anchorage banned smoking in most workplaces workplaces (restaurants, bowling alleys and pool halls, but not bars). |
| ALABAMA |
|
| ARIZONA |
The State passed a fairly comprehensive ban on smoking in public places, to take effect May 2007. Flagstaff banned smoking in restaurants, bars and nightclubs in 2004. Tempe and Guadalupe banned smoking in most public places in May 2002. Includes restaurants, bars, bowling alleys. Tucson and Mesa ban smoking in most restaurants. Sedona passed a ban in January '06 to take effect March 10th. |
| ARKANSAS |
April 2006: State bans smoking in most public places (some bars and small businesses and hotels are exempt). Feb. 2004: Fayetteville banned smoking in restaurants and bars. |
| CALIFORNIA |
Smoking banned for some years in most public venues incl. bars, bowling alleys, clubs |
| COLORADO |
Statewide smoking ban as of July 2006. |
| CONNECTICUT |
In 2003 smoking was banned in the workplace, including restaurants and bars, but exempting casinos and private clubs. Legal challenges are in process. |
| DELAWARE |
Smoking ban 11/27/2002 included all public buildings and workplaces including bars, restaurants, and casinos.
|
| DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (WASHINGTON DC) |
Smoking banned in government buildings - except in Congress, and restaurants. January 2007: ban extended to bars, bar areas of restaurants, and nightclubs. |
| FLORIDA |
July 2003: smoking banned in the workplace (including restaurants). Stand-alone bars and smoking rooms in hotels are exempt.
|
| GEORGIA |
May 2005: The State of Georgia banned smoking in public places with exemptions for restaurants and bars that do not serve minors, designated hotel rooms and workplaces with separately ventilated rooms for smokers |
| HAWAII |
Statewide smoking ban to include all workplaces, restaurants, bars and non-Indian-owned casinos by November 16, 2006.
|
| IDAHO |
July 2004: Smoking is banned in restaurants, retail stores, sports venues and child care centers, schools and hospitals. |
| ILLINOIS |
January 2008: Statewide smoking ban in restaurants, bars, nightclubs, workplaces, public buildings, and within 15 feet of building entrances, exits, and windows. |
| INDIANA |
Fort Wayne bans smoking in restaurants.
August 1, 2003: Bloomington: bans smoking in restaurants
and public places. Starting 2005 it includes bars and private clubs.
|
| IOWA |
|
| KANSAS |
July 2004: Lawrence bans smoking in the workplace (including restaurants). |
| KENTUCKY |
Lexington, Louisville and Oldham County have banned smoking in most public places (including restaurants and bars). |
| LOUISIANA |
Statewide ban on smoking in restaurants and other public places in effect January 2007. |
| MAINE |
Smoking banned in restaurants and bars. |
| MARYLAND |
Montgomery County restaurants allow smoking only at the bar; so if a restaurant has no bar, there is supposed to be no smoking. Shopping malls tend to be smokefree. |
| MASSACHUSETTS |
Statewide ban on smoking in the workplace, including restaurants and bars. |
| MICHIGAN |
|
| MINNESOTA |
January 2006: St. Paul passed a smoking ban on smoking in bars and restaurants. The ban goes into effect on March 31.
Duluth, Moose Lake, Cloquet and Olmsted County have all banned smoking in restaurants.
March 2005: Smoking ban in effect for bars, restaurants and bowling alleys in Hennepin county and cities of Minneapolis, Bloomington and Golden Valley.
A less restrictive ban for Ramsey County bars and restaurants (which contains St. Paul, MN) that generate less than 50% of their revenue from the sale of alcohol.
|
| MISSOURI |
July 2004: City of Arnold passed a law smoking in bars and restaurants with attached bars. It goes into effect November 1, 2004. |
| MISSISSIPPI |
Starkville banned smoking in public places and workplaces including bars, starting May 21st 2006. |
| MONTANA |
Bozeman bans smoking in restaurants and bars where there is no separation, Nov. 2002. |
| NEBRASKA |
The capital city, Lincoln, banned smoking in the workplace (including bars and restaurants) as of 2005. Omaha smoking ban goes into effect October 2006. |
| NEVADA |
The State passed a smoking ban in Nov. 2006, effective 11/17/06. |
| NEW HAMPSHIRE |
|
| NEW JERSEY |
Jan. 2006 - New Jersey banned smoking in indoor public places - includes bars and restaurants, exempts gambling areas of casinos. |
| NEW MEXICO |
Albuquerque bans smoking in restaurants and bars which are not separate from restaurants.
|
| NEW YORK |
The state bans smoking in most businesses, including restaurants, bars, bowling alleys, dance clubs and pool halls. It is backed by fines. Indian casinos are exempted.
|
| NORTH CAROLINA |
|
| NORTH DAKOTA |
Minot banned smoking in restaurants in 2002; Fargo in 2004. Bismarck in late 2005. |
| OHIO |
Nov. 2006: The State passed a smoking ban in most public places, including restaurants and bars, effective Dec. 2006. The City of Columbus banned smoking in restaurants and bars as of Feb. 2005. |
| OKLAHOMA |
March 2006: Smoking ban in effect for restaurants; exception for separately ventilated room.
|
| OREGON |
Corvallis bans smoking in restaurants and bars.
Eugene has a workplace smoking ban which includes bars, restaurants and all types of venues.
|
PENNSYLVANIA
|
Scranton effectively banned smoking in most bars and restaurants on December 11, 2006. |
PUERTO RICO
|
January 2006: banned smoking in the workplace, including bars and casinos. |
| RHODE ISLAND |
Smoking banned in the workplace, including restaurants and bars, clubs and bowling alleys. |
| SOUTH CAROLINA |
|
| SOUTH DAKOTA |
July 2002: smoking ban in most workplaces - bars & casinos exempted |
| TENNESSEE |
Statewide smoking ban takes effect October 2007. All restaurants will be required to be smokefree indoors unless they limit access to people 21+ at all times (including restaurants with bars, chain and hotel restaurants). |
| TEXAS |
A number of cities (Odessa, Austin, El Paso, Laredo, Lubbock, New Braunfels among others) ban smoking in restaurants or even all public places, some more strongly than others. As of March 1, 2003, Dallas banned smoking in restaurants, hotels, bowling alleys, and city-owned facilities. Bars are exempt and hotels can offer smoking rooms. April 2006: Beaumont passed a comprehensive ban to take effect August 2006.
|
| UTAH |
Smoking banned in most public places |
| VERMONT |
Vermont has banned smoking in restaurants for some years but not bars.
Starting May 2004, the city of Burlington will ban smoking in bars.
|
| VIRGINIA |
|
| WASHINGTON STATE |
December 2005: Passed a smoking ban which includes restaurants, bars, bowling alleys and non-tribal casinos. |
| WEST VIRGINIA |
Cabell County banned smoking in restaurants, workplaces and even bingo halls. Appealed to state Supreme Court May 2002 |
| WISCONSIN |
Appleton and Shorewood Hills have 100% smoke-free workplace ordinances (bars and restaurants)
Madison passed a smoking ban in July 2005. |
| WYOMING |
Laramie and Cheyenne have banned smoking in enclosed public places (including restaurants and bars). |
top
|
|
