Global InformationList of smoking bans in the United States information
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*Many localities impose stricter rules than state law
*Map only reflects bans in indoor spaces
Smoking bans are public policies, including criminal laws and occupational safety and health regulations, that prohibit tobacco smoking in certain spaces. The United States Congress has not attempted to enact any type of nationwide federal smoking ban in workplaces and public places. Therefore, such policies are entirely a product of state and local laws.
In 1995, California was the first state to enact a statewide smoking ban for restaurants.[1] Throughout the early to mid-2000s, especially between 2004 and 2007, an increasing number of states enacted a statewide smoking ban of some kind. As of 2018, the most recent statewide smoking ban is Alaska's, which was signed into law on July 18 and went into effect on October 1.
As further detailed in this list, smoking laws vary widely throughout the United States. Some places in the United States do not generally regulate smoking at all, some ban smoking in certain areas and not others, and some ban smoking nearly everywhere, even in outdoor areas (no state bans smoking in all public outdoor areas, but some local jurisdictions do). As of October 1, 2021, according to the American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation, 82.1% of the U.S. population lives under a ban on smoking in "workplaces, and/or restaurants, and/or bars, by either a state, commonwealth, or local law",[2] and 62.3% live under a ban covering all workplaces, restaurants, and bars.[3] A smoking ban (either state or local) has been enacted covering all bars and restaurants in each of the 60 most populated cities in the United States except these ten: Henderson, Jacksonville, Las Vegas, Memphis, Miami, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, Tampa, Tulsa, and Virginia Beach.[4][5]
- ^ Simon, Stephanie; Zamichow, Nora (January 4, 1995). "Some Would Rather Fight Than Switch to Smoking Ban : Tobacco: California's tough new workplace law touches off both rebellions and philosophical acceptance". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
- ^ "Overview List – How many Smokefree Laws?, Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights, January 2, 2014" (PDF). Retrieved January 12, 2014.
- ^ "Summary of 100% Smokefree State Laws and Population Protected by 100% U.S. Smokefree Laws, Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights, 1 January 2, 2014" (PDF). Retrieved January 2, 2014.
- ^ "States, Commonwealths, and Municipalities with 100% Smokefree Laws in Workplaces, Restaurants, or Bars, American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation, January 2, 2014" (PDF). Retrieved January 12, 2014.
- ^ "Municipalities with Local 100% Smokefree Laws, American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation, January 2, 2014" (PDF). Retrieved January 12, 2014.