What are the current U.S. smoking regulations?

Question

Best answer will include some brief facts regarding most of U.S. An extra push will go towards those that are kind enough to add any snippets regarding N.J. or N.Y. regulations.

Answer 1

United States smoking regulations/bans:
Bans in public places or bars/restaurants

* Alabama
o Birmingham
o Citronelle, March 1, 2006 banned in workplaces, restaurants, bars, homes providing daycare, and city parks.
o Cottonwood, banned in workplaces, bars, and restaurants.
o Huntsville
o Luverne, banned in workplaces, restaurants, and bars.
o Montgomery
o Pell City, April 2006 banned in all restaurants, but exempts bars. Restaurants only allowed to have a smoking section that is completely physically separated, and have a separate ventilation system.
o Trussville
* Alaska
o Anchorage, 2001 banned in most workplaces. Bars that don't serve food are exempt.
o Bethel, 1998 banned in all public places.
o Juneau, 2002 bans smoking in most public places, but stand-alone bars and some bar/restaurants are exempt until 2008.
o Sitka, October 5, 2005, passed a non-comprehensive ordinance. The only exemptions are for stand alone bars and clubs. An interesting feature was that kids are not allowed where smoking is allowed, which helped the Elks Club make the decision to go smokefree by a vote of their membership. The Moose Lodge is currently out of compliance, as they are allowing smoking in a building they share with a theater, and kids are being allowed in an upstairs room above the bar area.
* Arizona, May 1, 2007 voters approved Smoke Free Arizona(Proposition 201), banning smoking in all bars, restaurants, and workplaces.
o Chandler
o Chandler County
o Flagstaff, May 1, 2005, banned in restaurants, bars, and workplaces. Exempts private clubs, certain areas of nursing homes, and hotel + motel rooms.
o Gilbert
o Guadalupe, banned in workplaces, restaurants, and bars.
o Mariana
o Mesa, 1996
o Peoria
o Prescott, November 2005, banned in restaurants, bars, and workplaces.
o Sedona, March 10, 2006 banned in all workplaces, restaurants, bars, and most indoor facilities. Exempts private clubs, nursing and adult health care facilities, Native American rituals, tobacco stores, and outdoor patios.
o Surprise
o Tempe, 2002 banned in all indoor workplaces, restaurants, and bars.
o Tucson
* Arkansas, July 21, 2006 banned in almost all workplaces. Exceptions include establishments that do not allow patrons younger than 21; retail tobacco stores; long-term care facilities including nursing homes; gaming floors of operations regulated by the Arkansas Racing Commission; designated hotel smoking rooms; and workplaces with fewer than three employees.
o Fayetteville, 2004 banned in restaurants.
* California, 1994 banned in almost all workplaces (excepting tobacconists), including all restaurants, and in 1998 smoking was banned in bars. Additionally, California prohibits smoking within 20 feet of any door or window of any government building within the state, including buildings owned or occupied (e.g. leased) by any government entity, including public universities, or public buildings leased to private firms.
o San Luis Obispo, 2 August 1990 became the first city in the world to ban smoking in all public buildings
o Calabasas, 2006 banned in all indoor and outdoor public places, except for a handful of scattered, desginated outdoor smoking areas in town. Believed to be the strictest ban in the United States.
* Colorado, statewide ban went into effect July 1, 2006, making Colorado the 13th state to pass a smoking ban. Colorado's ban exempts casinos, private homes and cigar bars. A group of bar owners tried to block the ban from taking effect in July, [1], fearing that casinos would have an unfair advantage over bars. Their request for a restraining order on the ban was denied by Judge Babcock, but the group is currently proceeding with a lawsuit against the statewide ban.
o Boulder, 1995 banned indoors except for isolated rooms in bars and restaurants.
o Superior, 2000, banned smoking in bars and restaurants, including patios.
o Fort Collins, 2002, banned in workplaces including bars and near doors and windows.
o Pueblo, 2003, banned smoking in bars and restaurants.
o Greeley, 2003 banned smoking in bars and restaurants. Fort Collins and Boulder are generally regarded as "liberal" cities and Greeley was Colorado's first "conservative" city to enact the ban.
o Eagle County, 2005, voters banned smoking in bars and restaurants.
* Connecticut, 1 April 2004 banned in bars, restaurants, and workplaces with more than five employees. All 3 states bordering Connecticut (NY, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island) also have statewide bans on smoking in bars, restaurants, etc.
* Delaware, November 2002 banned in all public buildings, including workplaces, bars, restaurants, and casinos.
* District of Columbia City Council passed a ban on January 4, 2006 modeled closely on NYC's that went into effect on April 4, 2006 for restaurants (except bar areas). Bars, nightclubs, taverns and the bar areas of restaurants will be smokefree in January 2007.
* Florida, 1 July 2003 banned in all workplaces, except private homes, tobacco shops, designated rooms at motels and hotels, and stand alone bars with no more than 10% of revenue from food sales.
* Georgia, 1 July 2005 banned in restaurants and bars that allow minors to enter, or employ minors.
o Athens-Clarke County, 2005, Indoor smoking ban, including restaurants and bars, passed by Athens-Clarke County Commission
o Morrow, September 21, 2006 prohibited in all public places, including bars.
* Hawaii, Smoking ban in restaurants are enforced by Honolulu and Maui counties [2]. A smoking ban which will apply to county and state facilities, workplaces, and enclosed or partially enclosed public areas was signed into law on July 10, 2006 and will take effect on November 16, 2006.
* Idaho, July 2004 banned in restaurants, retail stores, sports venues, child care centers, schools, and hospitals.
* Illinois
o Bedford Park, June 1, 2006 banned in all public places.
o Bloomington, January 1, 2007 banned in all restaurants and bars. Exempts park areas, outdoor assemblies, and private clubs.
o Buffalo Grove, October 1, 2006 banned in all public places.
o Burr Ridge, July 10, 2006 banned in all public places.
o Champaign, January 31, 2007 banned in all public places. Exempts
o Chicago, January 16, 2006 banned in all public indoor places. Effective January 16, 2006, the ban prohibits smoking at restaurants without bars, common areas in residential buildings, sports arenas, convention centers, stores, malls, train platforms and outdoors within 15 feet (4.6 m) of any public building entrance. But there is a potentially delayed start specifically for bars, taverns, and restaurant with bars, as these sites are given 2.5 years (until July 1, 2008) to comply with the ban or implement an air-filtration system that will allow the indoor air with smokers to be of the same quality as the outdoor air.
o Cook County, March 2007. Effective in Cook County, except for municipalities with its own bans, indoor smoking is banned in all public places except for private clubs and nursing homes.
o Deerfield, March 1, 2006. banned in all public places, including parks and other outdoor assemblies.
o DeKalb, banned in all indoor public places, and was phased in for all restaurants on September 1, 2006. Ban will later be phased in for bars starting September 1, 2007.
o Elk Grove Village, January 1, 2007 banned in all public places.
o Evanston, July 1, 2006 banned in all public places. Exempts private clubs.
o Highland Park, June 1, 2005 banned in all public places.
o Hinsdale, July 1, 2006 banned in all public places.
o Lincolnshire, August 1, 2006 banned in all public places except enclosed bar areas and separated and ventilated dining areas of restaurants.
o Lindenhurst, November 16, 2006 banned in all public places, including outdoor patios.
o Normal, January 1, 2007 banned in all restaurants, bars, and parks.
o Oak Park, July 1, 2006 banned in all public places. Separate floors of restaurants exempt until March 1, 2007.
o Park Ridge, August 1, 2006 banned in all public places. Bars exempt until September 11, 2006.
o Skokie, August 7, 2003 banned in all public areas and places of employment, except for stand-alone bars, isolated bar areas of restaurants with separate HVAC systems, tobacco stores and bowling alleys. Restaurants with bars were given one year from adoption to complete any changes required to comply with the ordinance. To allow smoking, restaurants with bars are required to have at least 50% of the establishment be smoke-free, and the smoking area must have a wall or barrier and a separate HVAC system.
o Springfield, September 17, 2006 banned in indoor workplaces, including restaurants, bars, bowling alleys and private clubs. Exemptions include retail tobacco stores, some nursing home rooms, stage productions, hotel rooms and private homes not used for child or adult day care. A similar ban for unincorporated areas of surrounding Sangamon County took effect the same day.
o Urbana, August 1, 2006 banned in all public places. Bars exempt until January 1, 2007.
o Vernon Hills, October 1, 2006 banned in all public places, except parks and outdoor dining areas at least 15 feet (4.6 m) from entrances.
o Wilmette, July 1, 2004 banned in all public areas and places of employment.
* Indiana
o Avon, September 1, 2006, banned in all public places except bars.
o Bloomington, January 1, 2005 banned in public buildings including outdoor dining areas. Smoking is allowed only outside at a "reasonable distance" from doors, vents, and windows - measured by whether smoke can drift inside. Also banned in bars and private clubs as of 2005.
o Carmel, March 5, 2006 banned in all workplaces, enclosed areas and common-use areas (i.e. restrooms, lobbies, etc.), nursing homes and retirement facilities, condos, and restaurants. Exempts bars that don't employ or serve people under 21, tobacco stores and bars, private vehicles, private and fraternal clubs, and hotel/motel rooms, providing that 20% or fewer rooms are designated for smoking.
o Columbus, February 1, 2006, banned in all public places, except bars and private clubs.
o Delaware County
o Evansville, January 2, 2007 banned in most public places, except in establishments with physically separated smoking rooms prohibiting minors under 18.
o Fort Wayne, banned in January 1999 in all restaurants, except in separate, fully enclosed area(s) within a restaurant with a ventilation system. Exempted bars and bowling alleys.
o Franklin, August 1, 2006 banned in all public places, except bars and private clubs.
o Greenfield, March 1, 2006 banned in all public places, but exempts bars.
o Greenwood, April 22, 2006 banned in all places, except bars.
o Indianapolis, March 1, 2006 banned in all workplaces, day-care facilities, sports arenas, and restaurants and bars serving or employing minors younger than 18. Exempts bowling alleys, tobacco bars, tobacco stores, and private clubs.
o Jeffersonville, June 15, 2006 banned in almost all public places, including restaurants. Exempts bars and private clubs.
o Kokomo, October 6, 2006 banned in all public places and workplaces, except bars, private clubs, nursing homes, and any establishments serving alcohol and not serving patrons under 21.
o Lawrence, July 1, 2006 banned in all places except bars.
o Madison,
o Morgan County, January 1, 2005 banned in all restaurants, except ones that have separate smoking rooms.
o Muncie, July 15, 2006 banned smoking in restaurants and bowling alleys, except those with attached bars that were closed off from the rest of the building. Exceptions were also made for bars and taverns.
o Plainfield, February 1, 2007 banned in workplaces, restaurants, and bars. Exempts private clubs and nursing homes.
o Seymour, July 30, 2006 banned in public places except bars and private clubs.
o Shelbyville, August 1, 2006 banned in all public places, but exempts bars.
o Speedway, September 1, 2006 banned in all indoor public places except bars.
o Vanderburgh County
o West Lafayette, July 1, 2007 banned in all workplaces except homes, some hotel rooms, retail tobacco stores, tobacco bars, private clubs and outdoor areas in the city, including Purdue University's main campus.
o Zionsville, August 10, 2006 banned in all indoor public places, including workplaces, restaurants, bars. Also banned in private clubs, like Bloomington's ban.
* Iowa
o Ames Banned smoking in most public places other than bars, bowling alleys, truck stops, and restaurants (after 8:30 p.m.). The state supreme court ruled that municipalities did not have the authority to pass such bans thus invalidating the city's ordinance. Due to an aggressive grass roots movement, though, over 95% of restaurants are completely smoke-free.
* Kansas
o Fairway, banned in all public places.
o Lawrence, July 1, 2004 began a ban on smoking in "all enclosed public places" within the city.
o Manhattan, October 2006, banned in restaurants between 5:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Bars are exempt, and smoking is permitted in restaurants after 9 o'clock.
o Olathe, November 16, 2006 banned in all public places, including restaurants, bars, and workplaces. Private clubs and fraternal clubs exempt.
* Kentucky
o Ashland, October 1, 2006 Prohibits smoking in all enclosed public places and places of employment, as well as outdoor arenas, venues and patios and decks of restaurants.
o Daviess County, January 1, 2006 banned in any public establishment open to children under 18. Exempts private businesses and bars.
o Frankfort, July 25, 2006 banned in public buildings.
o Georgetown, October 1, 2005 banned in most public buildings. Smoking is still allowed in some hotel rooms.
o Letcher County, takes effect July 1, 2006 in all public buildings and restaurants. Exempts private clubs, private buildings.
o Lexington, April 27, 2004 banned in public buildings.
o Louisville, November 15, 2005 banned in all public buildings, except bars and taverns, restaurants with profits from bar sales at least 25%, Churchill Downs, and with permission from the city.
* Louisiana, SB 742 signed into law, banning smoking in all workplaces, restaurants, and other indoor public venues. It exempts bars and casinos, taking effect on January 1, 2007. [3]
o Lafayette
o Mandeville, June 10, 2005 banned in public places, workplaces, virtually all areas of public parks, and restaurants without a liquor license. Exempts bars and any restaurants with a liquor license.
o Shreveport, May 10, 2005 banned in public buildings, city parks, public areas, restaurants, and shopping malls and retail stores. Exempts bars and any businesses that sell alcohol.
o Terrebonne Parish, January 12, 2006 banned in shopping centers and malls, adult, child-care, and health-care facilities, parish buildings, sports arenas, museums, retail stores, restaurants without a liquor license, and bus stops. Exempts restaurants and bars with liquor liceneses.
* Maine, January 2004 banned in bars. Smoking has been banned in restaurants since 2000.
* Maryland
o Charles County - banned in restaurants but not standalone bars since June 2006.[4] Its county seat, La Plata, has since passed an expanded ordinance going beyond the county's ban, extending the ban to town bars, in addition to restaurants.
o Howard County - passed smoking ban on June 5, 2006. The ban went into effect in August 2006, but restaurants and bars with existing ventilated smoking areas will have until August 2007 to comply.
o Montgomery County, July 1, 2003 - banned in all eating and drinking establishments. [5]
o Prince George's County, December 23, 2005 (ban goes into effect 45 days after passage) banned in all bars and restaurants. private clubs are exempt.
o Talbot County, April 2004 banned in all bars and restaurants. Exempts fraternal clubs.
* Massachusetts, July 2004 banned in all workplaces, including restaurants and bars, except private clubs and cigar bars.
o Freetown, Massachusetts, January 1, 2004 banned in all businesses.
* Minnesota
o Beltrami County: Smoking is prohibited in restaurants and bars, including 10 feet (3 m) from entrances. Exemptions include smoking allowed in restaurants and bars between 8 p.m. and 3 a.m., in guest rooms of hotels and motel, in rented or leases cabins or resorts, and dormitory rooms, all of which expires on January 1, 2007. Effective date January 1, 2005.

*
o Cloquet: Smoking prohibited in restaurants. Exempts bars, and bar/restaurants with separately ventilated, enclosed rooms, where no one under 18 is allowed. Also includes 5 feet (2 m) from entrances. Effective date September 7, 2001.
o Duluth: Smoking prohibited in restaurants and restaurants with bars. Exempts restaurants and bars with separately ventilated, enclosed rooms, where no one under 18 is allowed. Effective date January 1, 2004.
o Golden Valley: Smoking is prohibited in all restaurants and bars, including 25 feet (7.6 m) from all entrances, and outdoor dinning areas. Also included public parks and recreational facilities. Effective date March 31, 2005.
o Hennepin County (which includes Minneapolis), March 31, 2005 banned in public areas. As of January 3, 2006, this ban was rolled back after heavy lobbying by bar owners, excepting businesses that derive more than 50% of revenue from liquor sales.
+ Bloomington: Smoking is prohibited in all bars and restaurants, including 25 feet (7.6 m) from entrances and outdoor eating areas of restaurants. Exempts 50% of outdoor eating areas as designated for smoking area. Effective date July 19, 2004.
+ Minneapolis: Smoking banned in bars, restaurants, clubs, pool halls and bowling alleys. Smoking allowed on outdoor patios.
o International Falls: Smoking is prohibited in all indoor areas of restaurants. Exempts restaurants with on sale liquor license which report more then 20% of sales from liquor, as well as separated areas of restaurants with on sale liquor license. Effective date November 11, 2005.
o Mankato, July 1, 2006 prohibited in all restaurants and bars. There is a one year hardship clause for any businesses providing sales receipts of more than 15% loss for one year, from July 1, 2006 only till July 1, 2007, when all given exemptions expire.
o McLeod County: Smoking is prohibited in restaurants and liquor establishments, including 10 feet from entrances. Exempts establishment with on sale liquor license that established prior to the date of adoption of this ordinance (establishments with seating capacity for fewer than 50 persons at a time that either serve no food or only pre-packaged food, like frozen pizza). Effective date August 1, 2006.
o Meeker County: Smoking is prohibited in restaurants, bars, and private clubs. Temporary exemption to establishments with liquor license that will expire on July 31, 2007. Effective date August 1, 2007.
o Moorhead: Smoking is prohibited in all restaurants. Exempts bars. Effective date December 15, 2004.
o Moose Lake: This was the first city in Minnesota to prohibit smoking in restaurants. Exempts bars. Effective date August 1, 2000.
o Olmsted County: Smoking is prohibited in restaurants. Exempts bars and restaurants with a separately enclosed bar, with separate ventilation system. Effective date January 1, 2002.
o Ramsey County (which includes St. Paul), March 31, 2005 banned in public buildings, excepting businesses that derive more than 50% of revenue from liquor sales.
+ St. Paul: As of March 31, 2006, smoking will be prohibited in all bars and restaurants in the city. The ban was long opposed by former mayor Randy Kelly but signed by mayor Chris Coleman on January 11.
* Mississippi
o Starkville: May 20, 2006, banned in all indoor public places, including bars, restaurants, and city buildings. Smoking is also prohibited in certain outdoor areas.
o Tupelo: October 2006, banned in all indoor public places, including restaurants and bars.
o Hattiesburg: January 1, 2007, banned in all indoor public places, including bars, restaurants, and city buildings.
* Missouri
o Ballwin, March 11, 2005, banned in public places, workplaces, and restaurants without liquor licenses. Took effect for bars and restaurants with liquor licenses on January 2, 2006.
o Maryville, banned in restaurants. Exempts all bars, and exempts restaurants that get 50% or more of their sales from alcohol.
* Montana, 1 October 2005, banned in all public buildings, including workplaces and restaurants. Bars, casinos, night clubs, and cocktail lounges that get 60% or more of their income from alcohol or gambling are exempt from the ban until October 1, 2009.
* Nebraska
o Lincoln, January 1, 2005, banned in public buildings, except outdoor dining areas and designated hotel rooms.
o Omaha, October 1, 2006, banned in all workplaces. A five-year sunset clause (until May 2011) exempts bars that don't serve food, keno parlors, and tobacco-only shops. Pending legislation may eliminate the clause.
* New Hampshire, all local bans are currently on hold, due to a state supreme court decision.
o Colebrook, banned in restaurants.
o Keene, February 4, 2002 banned in restaurants and bars, except in bars with separated ventilation systems.
* New Jersey, January 2006, banned in bars, restaurants, bowling alleys, etc.. Exceptions in NJ: cigar bars and on the gaming floors in Atlantic City casinos. This ban was signed into law on January 15, 2006, and it went into effect April 15, 2006. New Jersey's smoking ban thus connected a stretch of coastal Northeast states with bans against smoking in bars and restaurants, spanning from Delaware to Massachusetts.
* New York, July 2003 banned in all workplaces, bars, restaurants, bowling alleys, pool halls, and company cars, except Indian casinos and "cigar bars".
o New York City, March, 2003 - banned smoking in all restaurants, food-service establishments, and bars.
* Ohio December 7, 2006 voters approved Smoke Free Ohio(Issue 5), which bans smoking in all restaurants, bars, public places and workplaces.
o Centerville, 4 April 2005 bans all smoking in enclosed public places and places of employment. Smoking allowed in establishments having 55% or greater of their gross sales come from alcoholic beverages. Bowling alleys established before 4 April 2005, tobacco shops, and family owned and operated businesses exempt.
o Columbus, 26 September 2005 bans all smoking in enclosed public places or places of employment. Exceptions tobacco shops, private clubs, and 20 percent of hotel rooms.
o Marble Cliff, banned in workplaces, restaurants, and bars.
o Summit County, February 2006 smoking ban being adopted with a number of exemptions -- smoke shops, 20 percent of hotel rooms, bowling alleys, private clubs and racetracks. Akron's less-restrictive Clean Indoor Air Ordinance, on the books since 1990, prevails in the city. It allows smoking in bars, bowling alleys, bingo halls, restaurants, banquet halls, hotels and tobacco stores. Because the two laws conflict, enforcement is being delayed indefinitely.
* Oklahoma
o Smoking is illegal inside and within 25 ft (7.6 m) of all State-owned buildings, including courthouses, municipal buildings and public education facilities.
o Smoking is banned in any indoor workplace - including restaurants and hotels - unless a separate ventilation system under negative pressure is installed for ventilating the smoking area. Some exceptions are built into the statute. [1]
* Oregon
o Corvallis, August 1997 banned in all businesses and public buildings, including within 3 meters (10 ft) of entrances.
o Eugene, July 2001 banned in all public areas, including bars, restaurants, and venues. [6]
o Multnomah County, July 1, 2000 banned in workplaces, except bars, truck stops, and private residences. [7]
o Portland, September 2005 The local mass transit agency Tri-Met prohbits smoking within all bus shelters, transit centers, and most MAX train stations. This rule is enforceable by a fine, exclusion, or arrest.
* Pennsylvania
o Allegheny County, including the city of Pittsburgh January 2007
o Philadelphia a ban on smoking in almost all workplaces, including restaurants and most bars
* Rhode Island, 1 March 2005 banned in almost all indoor workplaces, except some gambling facilities.
* South Carolina
o Sullivan's Island, effective July 20, 2006, a ban on smoking in workplaces, including restaurants and bars. Currently being challenged in court.
* South Dakota, 2002 banned in restaurants that don't have a liquour license. Smoking also banned in public buildings
o Sioux Falls 2003 closed the loophole allowing restaurants to obtain a liquor license, without intention to use it, to keep their smoking sections of their restaurants. Restaurants that have liquor licenses must have liquor on their menu and available to customers.
* Texas
o Alvin, 2002 banned in restaurants. Bars and taverns exempt.
o Austin, September 1, 2005 ban extended to all bars and clubs. Smoking is still allowed in bingo halls, fraternities, hotel rooms, and nursing homes.
o Beaumont, ban takes effect August 1, 2006 in all enclosed public places, including workplaces, restaurants, and bars.
o Benbrook, effective November 1, 2006. Ban includes all public buildings and within 25 feet (7.6 m) of entrance or exit of same. For the purposes of this ordinance, 'public building' includes home offices, regardless of access to public, as well as storage buildings, detached garages, or any other building on residential site or other place in the city. Ban includes allowing a person to smoke.
o Carrollton, banned in restaurants.
o Dallas, March 1, 2003 banned in all restaurants, bowling alleys, and city-owned facilities. Bars are exempt and hotels can offer smoking rooms.
o El Paso, January 2, 2002 banned in all workplaces, bingo halls, restaurants, bars, and public areas and waiting rooms of doctor's facilities.
o Harlingen, April 2005 banned in all public places except bars, nightclubs, and at Valley Race Park, a local dog track.
o Laredo, October 2006 banned in all public places, workplaces, restaurants, and bars.
o Lubbock, July 22, 2004 banned in all public places, except for any smoking areas in restaurants or bars that are completely walled off from the rest of the building, and have a separate ventilation system. Bingo halls and designated hotel smoking rooms exempt.
o New Braunfels, banned in most indoor public places, including restaurants. Private clubs and stand-alone bars exempt.
o Odessa, banned in restaurants.
o Plano, banned in restaurants.
o Robinson, banned in all public places. Exempts bars.
o Rollingwood, banned in restaurants and bars.
o Round Rock, banned in workplaces and restaurants. Bars are exempt.
o Schertz, 2001 banned in restaurants, except if restaurant bar sales account for greater than 25% of a restaurant's business. Bars exempt.
o West Lake Hills, smoking banned in public places.
o Woodway, banned in restaurants, bars, and workplaces.
* Utah, in 2006 Utah became the 12th state in the country to ban smoking in bars. On March 1, 2006, the Utah State Legislature passed amendments to the 1995 Utah Indoor Clean Air Act that will fully ban smoking in private clubs by January 1, 2007, and bars and taverns by January 1, 2009. The new amendments will also restrict smoking from day cares; private schools; social, fraternal and religious organizations; and even workplace smoking areas. The 1995 act already banned smoking in restaurants.
* Vermont, September 1, 2005 banned lighted tobacco products in any indoor place of public access, including restaurants, bars and facilities owned or operated by a social, fraternal, or religious club. Vermont has banned smoking in restaurants since 1995, but the ban didn't cover bars until 2005.
* Washington, December 8, 2005 banned in all workplaces, including bars, restaurants, bowling alleys, and non-tribal casinos. Also bans smoking while standing within 25 feet (7.6 m) of a door or window that can open or a ventilation intake, and even cigar bars aren't allowed to have smoking. Private property is excepted from this ban, and "smoking clubs" have opened that allow smoking. Currently it is the strictest smoking ban by state in the country.
* West Virginia local smoking bans of varying degrees in place in all counties except Mingo County, Pocahontas County, and Monroe County. The bans have been set by county health departments. The "banning" began in 2001, starting with Kanawha County.
* Wisconsin
o Ashland, May 1, 2000 banned in restaurants. Exempts bars, and any restaurants with physically separated and ventilated smoking rooms.
o Beloit, July 1, 2007 banned in all workplaces, and restaurants. Exempts gaming facilities, and taverns with 50% or greater alcohol sales.
o Eau Claire, 2002, banned in all restaurants.
o Janesville, 2002, banned in restaurants, except for physically seperated and ventilated areas within a restaurant. Also exempts restaurants that have less than 50% food sales.
o Kenosha, banned in all restaurants in 2000. Exemption is restaurants with completely separate rooms with a completely closed room separating smoking from non smoking.
o Madison, July 1, 2005 banned in all workplaces, including bars, and restaurants. Cigar bars were originally covered in the ban, but are now exempt. Also exempts private clubs. [8]
o Menominee, September 12, 2006 banned in all public places, except Native American ceremonies, bars, and restaurants with that make 50% or more of their sales from alcohol.
o Shorewood Hills, 1995 banned in all restaurants, bars, and workplaces.
* Wyoming
o Cheyenne, August 15, 2006 banned in all public places, restaurants, bars, and private clubs.
o Laramie, April 6, 2005 Smoking outlawed in all public places, including restaurants, bars and private clubs.

[edit] Outdoor smoking bans
This sign at a public park in Turlock, California prohibits smoking at or around an outdoor children's playground area. State law prohibits smoking within 25 feet (8 m) of such areas.
Enlarge
This sign at a public park in Turlock, California prohibits smoking at or around an outdoor children's playground area. State law prohibits smoking within 25 feet (8 m) of such areas.

* In the state of California, outdoor smoking is banned within 20 feet (6 m) of all public building entrances, exits, "operable windows", and air intakes. This applies to all public and state-owned buildings, including all buildings part of such large entities as the 10-campus University of California system, the 23-campus California State University system, and the 109-campus California Community Colleges system. Many California public universities take tougher stances than the statewide required minimum, either by extending no-smoking zones past 20 feet (6 m) or severely restricting outdoor smoking to specific areas, such as California State University, Fresno and San Francisco, which prohibits all indoor and outdoor smoking on its campus except for in several designated outdoor zones.
* Smoking is prohibited within 25 feet (8 m) of playgrounds, sandboxes, or "tot-lots" throughout the state of California.
* Solana Beach, California, a small coastal town in North San Diego County, California enacted a total ban (with no designated smoking areas) on smoking on its beaches in 2003, the first community to have done so in the Continental United States. Many other coastal communities in California have since enacted similar bans, although policies regarding the scope and enforcement of such laws vary. Other coastal California cities and communities with beach-smoking bans include Capitola, Carpinteria, Dana Point, Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, Newport Beach, San Clemente, Santa Cruz, and Santa Monica.
* In 2004 San Francisco approved one of the strictest outdoor-smoking bans in the world to-date, prohibiting smoking in all city-owned parks and plazas as well as public sports facilities. Other smaller California cities have outdoor bans in city-owned places but none is as far-reaching as the new San Francisco policy, which came into effect June 1, 2005.
* In November 2005 the Kennesaw, Georgia City Council passed a measure to ban smoking in city parks, becoming the second city in Georgia following Douglasville in July. Also in July, the Buffalo Grove Park District of Illinois banned smoking entirely from park property.
* Cities such as Davis, Healdsburg, and Berkeley, California ban all outdoor smoking at outdoor restaurants and food venues.
* Ocean City, New Jersey prohibits smoking except for very restricted areas on its 2.5 mile (4 km) boardwalk due to a fire caused by a discarded cigarette butt.
* As of 8 December, 2005, Washington state outlaws standing and smoking within 25 feet (7.6 m) of a business' door, air intake, or window that can open. Smoking while walking on the sidewalk or other public access is allowable according to the law, even past one of these 25 foot (7.6 m) zones. Businesses can also get exemptions if they can show smoke does not enter into the building from a lesser distance.
* The University of Cincinnati outlawed smoking 25 feet (7.6 m) around campus buildings at the beginning of the 2005-2006 school year.
* The following university campuses in Indiana prohibit smoking 30 feet (9 m) around campus buildings as of August 2005:
o Ball State University
o The main campus of Purdue University in West Lafayette
o The main campus of Indiana University in Bloomington
o Indiana University-Purdue University Columbus
o Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
o Indiana University-East

[edit] Other bans

California has designated certain areas, such as all public schools and even prisons, as "tobacco-free" zones, where the possession of tobacco in any form (whether by students, parents, teachers, or others) is strictly prohibited indoors and outdoors. The sale and advertisement of tobacco is banned within 1000 feet (300 m) of educational facilities.

Similarly, Illinois law prohibits anyone from smoking on public school property (indoors and outdoors). In addition, smoking is prohibited in all college and university dormitories, as of 2006.

In addition, Maryland law bans smoking in all office workplaces.

[edit] Other restrictions

Many California communities have established smoke-free registries for private residential buildings, especially apartments. The policies may range from complexes where smoking is entirely prohibited (whether inside private dwellings or outside), or where certain sections of dwellings may be designated as smoking dwellings. While still a relatively new phenomenon, many California cities and communities such as Los Angeles have worked with the American Lung Association, which has been active in promoting anti-smoking policies in private residential buildings. Not surprisingly, such measures are somewhat controversial. While pro-smokers' rights groups have been vocal against such policies, most California cities allow landlords to place anti-smoking regulations at will because anti-smoking rules are in a context of landowners' private property. Also, anti-discrimination laws do not cover smokers, as smoking is not considered an inalienable right. According to the Los Angeles Daily News 82 % of Californian apartment-dwellers favor smoking restrictions in their buildings.

In addition, many hospitals have enacted restrictive smoking bans throughout all outdoor areas of their campus in recent years, or enacted bans requiring smokers to stand as much as 50 feet away from buildings, causing much debate, and even condemnation from some non-smokers as being overzealous. An example that illustrates this controversy is a recent smoking ban enacted at the University of Missouri Hospital and Clinics in Columbia, MO. The hospital recently banned smoking as of September 2006 anywhere in or around the hospital, including including in employee and patient vehicles - considered to be dangerous by some, since this forces some disabled to possibly have to cross a busy street to smoke while at the VA Hospital. Their official policy currently is to distribute flyers to patients saying that smoking is banned and detrimental to health, and take no further action. Some employees though, especially nurses and other staff, have reportedly done more than this, and fear it could lead to potential lawsuits, especially if patients are injured crossing the street to take a smoking break. In addition, staff there are required to tell patients that they must cross the street to smoke(and one nurse even reportedly assisted a patient across the street while holding their IV bag). Some people have suspected that actions like this may put nurses and staff at risk for lawsuits from patients, since the university's official policy is to do nothing more after informing patient's that the facility is non-smoking.

Here is a good list of some smoking bans/regulations:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_smoking_bans
(Worldwide)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_smoking_bans_in_the_United_States
(United States)

Answer 2

No, not outraged. I was a smoker for 30 years. 3-4 packs a day. I quit almost 4 months ago and am very happy for that but... I don't understand the whole, 'bash the tobacco company' thing. Smoking was my choice. Yes, I know it is addictive and bad for you - I chose to smoke anyway. That's on me. I am glad that I still live somewhere that I got to make that choice. They are in business to make money. I am not convinced that tobacco is the number one killer anymore. They say that one in two smokers will die from a smoking related disease. They also say that tobacco is the only product that, when used as directed, kills. Not true. Sweeten to taste. Sugar. The Atlanta Centers for Disease Control recently reported that of those children born in the year 2000, one in two would contract diabetes. In 1850, one person in 943 contracted diabetes. In the year 1900 it was one person in 188. In the year 1950 it was one person in 43. In 2000, one in two. Where is the outrage? It's killing us and we aren't doing anything about it. The sugar companies aren't pointing this news out to us... it's not in their best interest to do so. Same with the tobacco companies.

Answer 3

Many places just passed new legislation that has not gone into effect yet. I know New York City does not currently allow smoking in any public places, including bars or restaurants, and hasn't for awhile. Las Vegas just passed legislation that will forbid smoking in any establishment that serves food. Most, if not all of California does not allow smoking in any public places, including some beaches. Phoenix just passed legislation that will forbid smoking in bars and restaurants. Chicago has a recent law that forbids smoking in any public places including restaurants and bars and within 15 feet of any door (which is novel becuase in Chicago, if you are 15 from one door, you are in front of another door.. unless you're standing in the middle of the street about to get hit by a bus.)

Answer 4

in NY, you can't smoke in any public places. But there are some indian casionos where you can smoke inside, that's about it...it differs with every state and i don't know the regulations for NJ. good luck.

Answer 5

Unfortunately, this varies from county to county. Nationally, anyone under 16 can not buy cigarettes...and they have a warning from the General.
...in my county in Georgia we have a local ordinance against smoking in restaurants...any restaurant that allows smokers has to have a physical barrier between smokers and non smokers such as a window or door...for example the bar part may allow smokers but the bar is separate from the restaurant...

Hope this helps:)
I myself do not smoke but feel the non smokers are going too far! They want to ban smoking in your car and in your home,...are we living in the Soviet Union?

Answer 6

Or Philly? The regulations differ by city, not the same all over America.

Answer 7

US national laws only require you to be at least 18 years of age.
Every state and town seems to have its own regs as to when and where you can smoke!

Answer 8

they are changing mroe and more everyday, but now you can almost not smoke anywhere if your in public. You have to be a certain length away from Hospitals, and legal areas such as courthouses,

Answer 9

For NY, refer to:
http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/clean_indoor_air_act/ciaalaw.htm