It seems not long ago that the nonsmoking area in restaurants was delineated by an invisible barrier which often placed nonsmokers directly adjacent to the smoking section. Unfortunately, no one told the smoke to stay on its own side of the line. Today, smoking bans in restaurants, bars and other public venues are increasingly common. In many municipalities and states, it's the law.
Smoking Ban History
The first state to legally ban cigarette smoking was Utah, way back in 1921. However, significant enforcement did not take place until 1923, when police began to crack down. The law met its demise when Ernest Bamberger, a former senatorial candidate, was arrested with three associates for smoking after-dinner cigars in Salt Lake City's Vienna Cafe. After the incident, a growing hue and cry for the law's repeal was embodied in the proclamation of a speaker at one mass meeting, "Utah . . . is being ridiculed from ocean to ocean and from Canada to the gulf . . . because of its freak legislation." The law was nullified on March 9, 1923, and smoking remained legal in Utah until new legislation banning smoking in restaurants was passed in 1995.
Early Smoke-Free Districts
More recent efforts for smoking cessation in public venues began in the early 1980s, but it wasn't until 1994 that California took the lead by enacting a state law prohibiting smoking in restaurants, bars and gaming facilities. It took nearly a decade before South Dakota, Delaware and Florida got on board with similar laws enacted in 2002. Since then, new states have been added yearly along with a number of municipalities in regions without a statewide law.
New Kids on the Block
As of October, 2010, there were 430 active nonsmoking ordinances in the United State, with total bans on smoking in restaurants, bars and workplaces enacted in 35 of the 50 states. Washington D.C. went completely smoke-free in 2007. Puerto Rico enacted a total ban in 2007, and the U.S. Virgin Islands recently passed similar legislation. Many other states have partial bans in effect, with additional legislation pending.
Other Smoke-Free Initiatives
In addition to bars, restaurants and workplaces, scores of municipalities have banned smoking in public parks and recreation areas such as zoos. While many state laws allow smoking in outdoor dining areas, the list of municipalities banning the practice is growing. Smoke-free airports, hotels and sports arenas are increasing in number. A growing trend in hospitals, universities and other large businesses and corporations does away entirely with smoking anywhere on campus, eliminating even outdoor smoking areas for employees.
