List of smoking bans

 

This is a list of smoking bans by country.

 Albania

A national smoking ban in Albania was passed in June, 2006 by a very strong majority in the Parliament, where 75 representatives voted for the ban and only 2 voted against it.^[1] These laws are especially tough and make it illegal to:

• smoke or purchase smoking products if a person is under 18 years old
• sell smoking products in the streets or any other public place
• sell unpacked smoking products and/or consume smoking products in public places, institutions, restaurants, mass media, schools, hospitals, vehicles etc.

In restaurants, smoking is allowed only in open spaces outside of the main building. Information regarding the effects of smoking is required to appear in the front of every cigarette pack and it must occupy 30-50% of its space. They must not contain any misleading information or promote the product's sale by emphasizing a lower level of a chemical the product might contain.

A telephone hot-line is available for any citizen to report businesses or individuals that break the law.

40% of Albanians are regular smokers, 60% of which are men and 40% are women.^[2] Despite these numbers, the anti-smoking laws are strictly followed and businesses are cooperating.

Fines are high and include^[3]:

• 50,000 LEK (~US$550) for persons or businesses that break the law (fines increase for repeat offenders and businesses could lose operating license)
• 100,000 LEK (~US$1,100) for the sale of smoking products in public places
• 3,000,000 LEK (~US$33,000) for those importers that advertise the sale of such products
• 5,000,000 LEK (~US$55,000) for the media outlets that allow such advertising

 Argentina

Since March 1, 2006^[4], smoking is completely banned in all public buildings in the city of Buenos Aires and the following provinces: Mendoza, La Rioja, Tucumán, San Juan, Chubut, Salta, Chaco, Neuquén, Tierra del Fuego, and Río Negro.^[5] There are also partial bans in Santa Fe and Córdoba provinces.^[6]

Since October 1, 2006, smoking is also banned in restaurants, pubs, shopping malls, bakeshops, and many other closed places in Buenos Aires. It is mandatory to display No smoking signs in such places. Those restaurants and pubs with an area over 100 m² may however assign a separate area of up to 30% of the total area where people may smoke. This area has to be properly isolated and conditioned. Advertisement of cigarette brands in the thoroughfare is also prohibited.

A 0800^[7] number is available for citizens to ask for more information and report businesses or individuals that break the law.

 Armenia

Armenia banned smoking in educational, cultural, and health care institutions and public transportation in December 2004. However, the new legislation has not yet been effective as implementation has been difficult.

 Australia

Main article: List of smoking bans in Australia

In Australia smoking bans are determined on a state-by-state basis: A ban on smoking in all indoor dining areas was introduced in South Australia in January 1999.^[8] Similar measures to those introduced in New Zealand were successful in the state of Queensland in July 2006. The State of Tasmania also plans to bring in law making it illegal to smoke in cars containing passengers under 18. Additionally, as of December 1st 2006, smoking in all registered clubs, pubs and restaurants in the ACT has been banned, with a similar ban being introduced in Victoria on July 1 , 2007. In New South Wales a ban on smoking in all enclosed areas of restaurants, licensed clubs and pubs came into force on July 1, 2007. In Queensland, some sports stadiums are now smoke-free. Local government in some parts of Australia have introduced smoking bans on beaches and in public parks.

 Belgium

• 2005: Companies should have implemented smoking plans to discourage smoking.
• January 2006: Smoking prohibited in the work area.
• January 2007: Smoking banned in restaurants and bars, except in the ones that serve "light meals" (e.g. cold meals, pizzas and warm meals that are served with bread instead of french fries) and have less of 30% of their sales from food servings. Small bars are also not included in the ban. Most large bars, such as concert venues, do little to enforce the ban.
• September 2008: Smoking no longer allowed in schools.

 Bhutan

On December 17, 2004, a national ban on the sale of tobacco products went into effect. Smoking in all public places in Bhutan became illegal on February 22, 2005. It thus became the first nation in the world to outlaw this practice outright.

 Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina within the nation has it since September 1, 2007.

 Brazil

In Brazil, smoking is forbidden in all enclosed public spaces, such as restaurants, shopping malls and libraries, save for specifically-designated smoking areas. Tobacco advertising is restricted to posters in retail stores. ^[9]

 Canada

Smoking in indoor workplaces and public places is banned in most provinces. A nation-wide bill has also been introduced federally.

• Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, the Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan have banned indoor smoking including in bars. Ontario has banned smoking in the workplace, taxicabs, work vehicles, bars and restaurants, and has banned ventilated smoking rooms and enclosed smoking shelters, such as those in front of hospitals. Nova Scotia has also done the same as of December 1, 2006.
• Prince Edward Island allow smoking only in separate, ventilated rooms.
• British Columbia now has bans so that one cannot smoke near public doors, at bus stations, and near or on school grounds. A province-wide ban on smoking in public places starts in 2008. You cannot smoke in bars or restaurants in the city of Vancouver except in completely separated areas with special ventilation systems.
• Alberta bans smoking in all workplaces, except for those places where under 18 aren't allowed to enter. It exempts bars, casinos and bingo halls.
  • Edmonton has a total ban; Calgary implemented a near-total ban on January 1, 2007, though casinos and bingo halls will be exempt until 2008.
• The Yukon is the last region to introduce a ban, effective (once passed) by the latter part of 2007.^[10]
  • Whitehorse banned as of January 2005 in all indoor public places, including restaurants and bars.

 Chile

Chile bans smoking in schools, hospitals, government offices, stadiums, buses and other public places. Restaurants, with large eateries given until May 2007 to create fully partitioned nonsmoking sections. Smaller restaurants will be able to choose between being smoke free or upgrading their ventilation systems.^[11]

 China

Guangzhou and Jiangmen ban smoking in public places include restaurants, entertainment outlets, schools, supermarkets, and governmental offices in a trial run. ^[12]

 Cuba

Cuba has banned smoking in most work places, cigarette machines removed and it has been illegal to sell tobacco products close to schools since February 2005.

 Czech Republic

Currently, there is a law in force that bans smoking in all public places such as institutions, hospitals, bus stops and other public service stops, but not in restaurants, bars and clubs.

 Denmark

As of August 15, 2007,^[13]smoking in restaurants, bars, and clubs is banned (if the place is above 40 square meters). Special smoking facilities are allowed in places that are bigger than this. It is expected that even these will be banned in 2010. Smoking bans are already enforced in places like public transportation.^[14]

 Estonia

Smoking has been banned within indoor public areas and workplaces on 4 June, 2005, except in restaurants. Later a ban on smoking in bars, restaurants, coffee shops and nightclubs started on 5 June, 2007 (however still allowed in isolated smoking rooms).

 Finland

Smoking has been banned in indoor public areas and workplaces from 1 March, 1995, except in restaurants. Smoking has been banned in all indoor public and workplaces, including bars, cafes, clubs and restaurants from 1 June, 2007, except in those places which have been permitted a transition period of up to two years.

 France

France, from 1 February 2007, tightened the existing ban on smoking in public places found in the 1991 Évin law:Law n°91-32 of January 10, 1991, containing a variety of measures against alcoholism and tobacco consumption, is named after Claude Évin, the minister who pushed for it.

Smoking is now banned in all public places (stations, museums, etc.); an exception exists for special smoking rooms fulfilling drastic conditions, see below. However, a special exemption is made for cafés and restaurants, clubs, casinos, bars, etc. until January 1, 2008.^[15] Opinion polls suggest 70% of people support the ban.^[16] Previously, under the former implementation rules of the 1991 Évin law, restaurants, cafés etc. just had to provide smoking and non-smoking sections, which in practice were often not well separated.

Under the new regulations, smoking rooms are allowed, but are subjected to very strict conditions: they may occupy at most 20% of the total floor space of the establishment and their size may not be more than 35 m²; they need to be equipped with separate ventilation which replaces the full volume of air ten times per hour; the air pressure of the smoking room must constantly be lower than the pressure in the contiguous rooms; they have doors that close automatically; no service can be provided in the smoking rooms; cleaning and maintenance personnel may enter the room only one hour after it was last used for smoking.

A judicial recourse against the new regulations was filed before the Conseil d'État, but was rejected.^[17]

 Germany

In August 2007, the states of Baden-Württemberg and Lower Saxony banned smoking in restaurants, bars and clubs and most of the other German states are expected to follow in 2008. Smoking is banned on public transport and in federal buildings, including the parliament.

 Guernsey

Smoking was banned in all public places in the British Crown dependency of Guernsey, including workplaces, bars, clubs and restaurants, on 2 July 2006, under the "Smoking (Prohibition in Public Places and Workplaces) (Guernsey) Law 2005". Anyone who breaks the law, upon conviction, could be fined up to the maximum of £1000 (~€1500, ~$2000). Smoking is allowed anywhere outside and in whatever company.^[18] The neighbouring Channel Island of Alderney agreed in March 2007 to implement the ban, but no date has been set. Smoking in indoor public places remains legal on just one of the Channel Islands, Sark.

 Hong Kong

Smoking in public places was banned by the Hong Kong Government commencing on 1 January 2007. The ban was placed in most public places including restaurants, Internet cafés, public lavatories, beaches and public parks. Bars, karaoke parlors, and other adult-only businesses are required to go smoke-free by 2009. Smoking bans in lifts, public transport, cinemas, concert halls, airport terminal were introduced between 1982 and 1997. The ban in shopping centres, department stores, supermarkets, banks, game arcades has been in place since July 1998.

 Hungary

In 2009, smoking is going to be banned in most public places including restaurants, bars, etc.^[19]

 Iceland

The smoking ban in Iceland came into effect on June 1, 2007, when the hospitality industry became smoke-free, including restaurants, bars, clubs and cafés.

 India

A ban on workplace, restaurants, hotels smoking nationwide will come into effect in late 2007. ^[20]

 Indonesia

Jakarta's restaurants, hotels, schools, office buildings, airports and public transport smoking is banned. Restaurants who want to allow smoking have to provide a separate smoking space starting Feb. 4, 2006. ^[21] Like many Asian nations, it remains to be seen whether it can be enforced or not. Building separate facilities for smokers has only taken place in half of establishments by June 2007.^[22]

 Ireland

Ireland became the first country in the world to institute an outright ban on smoking in workplaces on 29 March 2004. From that date onwards, under the Public Health (Tobacco) Acts, it has been illegal to smoke in all enclosed workplaces. The ban is strictly enforced and despite the climate, there was little backlash by smokers. The ban includes bars, restaurants, clubs, offices, public buildings, company cars, trucks, taxis and vans. The maximum on-the-spot fine is €3000 (~$4,100 / ~£2,100), while a prison sentence can also be given later. The law does not apply to prisons, nursing homes, psychiatric wards and some hotel rooms. Stadiums like Croke Park ban smoking anywhere in the grounds.

Premises must display a sign to inform patrons of the ban (in Irish or English), and the contact person for any complaints. A bar can be fined €3,000 per person found smoking. Smoking rooms are not allowed. Any shelter's surface must have at least 50 per cent uncovered.

As of 27 February 2007, up to 1000 rural bars and pubs are thought to have closed since the ban's implementation in 2004. Nearly 440 fewer pub licenses were issued or renewed in 2006 than in 2005.^[23]

A report from the European Union identified Ireland as the best country in Europe for protecting non-smokers from tobacco smoke, mostly due to the strict nature of the smoking ban. Ireland also has the second highest tobacco prices in Europe.^[24]

 Isle of Man

A ban has been agreed, and will come into effect on March 30, 2008.^[25]

 Israel

In Israel it is forbidden (from November 2007) to smoke in public places including pubs and bars, and it is illegal for owners of such places to put ashtrays anywhere inside closed spaces. Also, owners of public places must put "no smoking" signs and prevent visitors from smoking. They can also designate a well ventilated and completely separate area for smokers, as long as non smokers area is 75% of the whole area. The fine for owners of public places is 5,000 NIS (around 1,200 USD) and for smokers - 1,000 NIS.

 Italy

In Italy, it has been strictly forbidden since 10 January 2005 to smoke in public enclosed spaces, except for designated smoking rooms, in which food can be served, but which are subjected to strict conditions: they need to be separately ventilated, with specified high air replacement rates; their air pressure must constantly be lower than the pressure in the surrounding rooms; they must be equipped with sliding doors which close automatically. Only 1% of all public establishments have opted for a smoking room.

 Jersey

Smoking is restricted in public places in Jersey (a British Crown dependency).

The Restriction on Smoking (Jersey) Law 1973^[26] enabled the States of Jersey to pass regulations prohibiting or restricting smoking in places of entertainment and public transport. In pursuance of this law, smoking was banned on public transport by the Smoking (Public Transport) (Jersey) Regulations 1982^[27].

The Restriction on Smoking (Jersey) Law 1973 was amended by the Restriction on Smoking (Amendment No. 2) (Jersey) Law 2006^[28] adopted 16 May 2006 which enabled the States to make regulations to prohibit or restrict smoking tobacco or a substance (or a mixture of substances) other than tobacco, or the use of tobacco, in a workplace or other defined places.

Smoking was banned in public places, including workplaces, bars, clubs and restaurants, on 2 January 2007, under the Restriction on Smoking (Workplaces) (Jersey) Regulations 2006. The law also bans smoking in bus shelters, phone boxes or other places (including choses publiques^[29]) that are roofed and are more than 50% enclosed. Smoking is allowed anywhere outside and in whatever company.^[30]

 Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan outlawed smoking in public places since April 1, 2003. ^[31]

 Kenya

Smoking in public indoor areas is banned in Nairobi, Kenya since July 2007.^[32] Small private bars will be exempted. Mombasa already has a similar preexisting ban on smoking.

 Lithuania

Smoking has been banned in restaurants, bars, places where food is served, clubs (except for special cigar and pipe clubs), and nightclubs since 1 January 2007. Furthermore, smoking on public transportation is forbidden except on long-distance trains with special facilities.

 Malta

In April 2004, smoking was banned in all enclosed public spaces, including public transportation, although smoking areas are allowed.

 Malaysia

There is a ban on smoking in Malaysia, but does not extend to bars, cafes, and open areas.

In all 19 areas are banned, including hospitals/clinics, public lifts and toilets, air-conditioned restaurants, public transport, government premises, educational institutions, petrol stations, Internet cafes and shopping complexes. However, enforcement is an issue, and the government plans to get tougher on offenders.^[33]

 Mexico

Smoking in hospitals and airports has been banned for at least 15 years. Mexico City looks to extend the smoking ban to restaurants, schools, taxis and buses. ^[34]

 Montenegro

Smoking in public places is banned in Montenegro. The ban also forbids smoking advertising and the display of people smoking on television. ^[35]

 Netherlands

From 2008-01-07, smoking will be banned in restaurants, cafés, bars and nightclubs.^[36] Separated enclosed smoking rooms will still be allowed, as long as no food or drinks are served within. There will be no limits on the size of these rooms. Even the counters in "coffee shops" (cafés that sell cannabis) must be smoke-free, while smoking must be done in the designed smoking room.

Other workplaces, public buildings and the public transport have been smoke-free since 2004-01-01. ^[37]

 New Zealand

New Zealand passed a smokefree law on 10 December 2004 - New Zealand’s smoke-free law covers all indoor public workplaces and inside hospitality venues (pubs, bars, restaurants and casinos). Studies have shown very high levels of compliance with the law. Also the air quality inside hospitality venues is very good compared to similar settings in other countries where smoking is still permitted.

Outdoor smoke-free laws cover the grounds of all schools, some council-owned parks (eg, in South Taranaki and Upper Hutt), the grounds of some hospitals, stadiums and one university campus (Massey University). The government has not moved to restrict smoking in cars but has run mass media campaigns that promote smoke-free cars and homes.

On 5 September 2007, Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) New Zealand called for the removal of tobacco from sale by 2017.^[38]

 Norway

In Norway, smoking has been banned in public buildings and in private buildings that are open to the public (like restaurants, bars, cafes) since 1 June, 2004.

 Philippines

Davao has banned smoking in a large number of public places, including public buildings, entertainment venues, hospitals, shopping malls, concerts since 2002. Smoking at gasoline stations outdoors in banned.^[39]

Manila has banned smoking in large public areas like hospitals, malls, public transport, as well as Makati in 2002 Ordinance 2002-090, banning all public transport and enclosed indoor smoking.^[40]

 Portugal

On May 3 2007, the Portuguese parliament made a law banning smoking in most indoor public places, such as restaurants, bars, clubs, public transport, schools and shopping malls. The only exception was that bars and restaurants above 100m² will be allowed to have a smoking area, provided that it is no larger than 30% of the floor. It will go into force within a year. Smokers who break the law face a fine of up to €1000 (~US$1300) and establishments that break the law will face a fine of up to €2500 (~US$3400). The law was passed but the fines are lighter and restaurants, bars and clubs may choose if they are or not smoke free. The smoking ban also includes raising the legal age to purchasing tobacco from 16 to 18.^[41]

 Puerto Rico

The Law Num. 40 from 1993, the Law to Regulate the Smoking Practice in Public Places, and its later 1996 amendment Law 133, regulate smoking in private and public places. The most recent modification established in [March 2, 2007], Law 66, amended articles 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 and 11 of Law Num. 40, forbids this practice inside jails, pubs, restaurants (including open-air terraces with one or more employees), casinos, educational institutions, cars with children under age 13 and most public places.

 Romania

In Romania, currently, in public indoor areas, smoking is allowed only if special places for smokers are set up. Smoking in hospitals, trains, train stations, airports is forbidden, excluding in the special smoking areas, if they exist. Starting July 1 2008, smoking will be banned in all public places, including restaurants, pubs, workplaces, shops, hotel rooms, schools, parks and playgrounds.^[42]

 Russia

The legislation, passed by the State Duma 406-0, all but bans smoking in workplaces, on airplanes, trains and municipal transport as well as in schools, hospitals and government buildings. It requires specially designated smoking areas to be set up and also requires restaurants and cafes to set up no-smoking areas. Russia's no-smoking bill must go through two more readings in the Duma before being sent to the Federation Council for approval and to President Vladimir Putin for his signature.^[43]

 Singapore

Smoking was banned in hawker centres, coffee-shops, cafes and fast-food outlets beginning July 1 2006. For establishments with an outdoor area, 10-20% of the area can be set aside for smoking, although they would have to be clearly marked to avoid confusion.

On July 1 2007, the ban was extended to entertainment nightspots. The rule allows for the construction of designated smoking rooms which can take up to 10% of the total indoor space.

Smokers found flouting the rules are fined S$200 while the owners of the establishments are fined S$200 and S$500 for a subsequent offence.

 Slovenia

On June 22 2007, the Slovenian National Assembly approved a law prohibiting smoking in indoor public and work places, effective August 5 2007. Exempted from the ban are "open public areas, special smoking hotel rooms, special smoking areas in elderly care centres and jails, and special smoking rooms in bars and other work places. The smoking rooms, which will have to meet strict technical standards, will however not be allowed to occupy more than 20% of an establishment."^[44] The law also raised the minimum age to purchase tobacco products from 15 to 18 and mandated that tobacco labels carry the telephone number of a quit-smoking hotline.

 Spain

The law bans smoking in offices, shops, schools, hospitals, cultural centres and on public transport, including stations and airports. The law also states that restaurants and bars over 100 m² can designate a smoking area, but it has to be physically separated and may occupy at most 30% of the total floor space of the establishment. Establishments smaller than this may choose whether to allow or prohibit smoking. Additionally, the law prohibits the sale of tobacco products to persons under 18 years of age and limits the places in which tobacco can be sold.^[45] It went into effect Jan. 1, 2006. Months later, the community of Madrid made a decree which states that restaurants over 100m² are not required to make complete physical separation of the smoking and non-smoking areas. Three other autonomous communities made similar decrees that only requires that smoking areas be separated with ventilation systems.^[46] See Spanish Antismoking Law (in Spanish)

 Sweden

In Sweden, smoking was banned in restaurants, cafes, bars and nightclubs in June 2005. Smoking rooms are, however, allowed in these institutions if the place is very small and if the rooms are totally secluded from the rest of the place. No serving or consumption of food or beverages are allowed in smoking rooms. The ban was very popular amongst the population and even the industries affected.^[47]

 Switzerland

In the Canton of Ticino from 2007-04-12 smoking is banned in restaurants, cafes, bars, nightclubs and public places .^[48]

 Taiwan

There is a smoking ban in Taiwan for indoor public areas such as hospitals, malls, airports. Does not extend to entertainment areas as of yet, including gaming areas.

 Thailand

Indoor smoking ban effective in all indoor air conditioned establishments throughout Thailand since November 2002, with entertainment areas exempted. Cigarettes have graphic pictures since 2005, and advertising is banned. Enforcement and compliance have been strong.

 Uganda

In March 2004, smoking is banned in public places, including workplaces, and restaurant & bars. An extension to private homes is being considered.

 United Kingdom

Due to devolution, smoking bans in the United Kingdom have been determined on a country-by-country basis within the UK. The whole of the UK has been covered since July 1 2007. The most recent available data from the Office for National Statistics indicates that there has been a large rise in the number of people supporting the smoking ban. 77% of people in England and Wales now support legislation to ban smoking in public places.^[49]

 Scotland

On March 26, 2006, Scotland prohibited smoking in enclosed (more than 50% covered) public places, which includes public buildings, workplaces, sports stadiums, bars and restaurants. Exemptions are in place to allow hotel guests to smoke in their own rooms. Unusually the law also bans smoking in bus shelters, phone boxes or other shelters that are more than 50% enclosed. It also prohibits smoking in trucks and vans which are owned by a company whether or not the driver is the only person inside. In common with the response in New Zealand, the ban has been criticized by certain publicans, cafes and bingo halls who claim that it is hurting sales and business, but this matter is contested by others who report increased sales.^{[citation needed]} Public support in Scotland is in clear favour of the ban,^{[citation needed]} and adherence is widespread.^{[citation needed]} It is reported that the National Heath Service in Scotland's Quit Smoking Line, has received an additional 50,000 calls from people wishing to give up in the 6 months since the ban was introduced.^[50]

On 27 September, 2007, Maureen Moore, the outgoing Chief Executive of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Scotland, called for Scotland to strive to become an entirely smoke-free country.^[51]

 Wales

Smoking was banned across all enclosed public premises and work premises in Wales on April 2 2007. Adherence is widespread and public houses report increases in takings since the ban came into place.^[52] However, six months after the ban's implementation, the Licensed Victuallers Association (LVA), which represents pub operators across Wales, claims that pubs have lost up to 20% of their trade. The LVA says some businesses are on the brink of closure, others have already closed down, and there is little optimism that trade will eventually return to pre-ban levels.^[53]

 Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland, a smoking ban has been in effect since 30 April, 2007. It is illegal to smoke in all enclosed workplaces. This includes bars, restaurants, offices and public buildings. Like Scotland, the smoking ban is more comprehensive in that places, such as phone boxes and enclosed bus/train shelters (often seen in rural areas) are included. The on-the-spot fine for smoking in a workplace is £50 (~€70/~$100), while a business that allows it can be fined £2,500 (~€3,700/~$5,000).

A £200 fine may be levied by local councils if businesses fail to show signs. An opinion poll showed that 91% of people supported the ban.^[54][55]

 England

Main article: Smoking ban in England

Smoking was banned in indoor public places in England, including workplaces, bars, clubs and restaurants, on the 1st July 2007. Some places, such as certain smoking hotel rooms, nursing homes, prisons, submarines, offshore oil rigs, psychiatric wards and stages/television sets (if needed for the performance) are excluded. The on-the-spot fine for smoking in a workplace is £50 (~€70/~$100), £30 (~€45/~$60) if one pays within 15 days, while a business that allows it can be fined £2,500 (~€3,700/~$5,000). Smoking will be allowed to continue anywhere outdoors.^[56] However, a confidential government briefing obtained by The Independent on Sunday newspaper reveals that provisions are in place for extending the ban to outdoor areas.^[57]

It was reported on 16th September 2007 that Prince Harry is openly flouting the ban.^[58]

 United Nations

As United Nations buildings are not the subject of any national jurisdiction, the United Nations has its own smoking and non-smoking policies. Following the gradual introduction of partial non-smoking bans between 1985 and 2003, Secretary-General Kofi Annan introduced in 2003 a total ban on smoking at United Nations Headquarters.^[59] Similar bans have not been introduced in field offices of the United Nations worldwide.

Some specialized agencies of the United Nations, such as the United Nations Children's Fund and the World Health Organization have their own strict smoking bans which apply to their offices worldwide, but the same is not true for entities of the Secretariat, such as the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

 United States

Main article: List of smoking bans in the United States

In the United States, the question of smoking is determined at the state or municipal level, not by the federal government; therefore, smoking policies are instituted on a state-by-state basis. Over 50% of Americans are covered by a smoke-free ordinance of some degree.^[60] Coverage varies from total smoking bans even outdoors to no ban at all.

 Uruguay

Main article: Smoking in Uruguay

In March 2006, it became illegal in Uruguay to smoke in enclosed public spaces. Now bars, restaurants or offices where people are caught smoking face fines of more than $1,100 or a three-day closure. This makes Uruguay the first country in South America to ban smoking in enclosed public spaces.^[61]

Anti-smoking groups estimate that as many as a third of Uruguay's 3.4 million people smoke. President Tabaré Vázquez, a practicing oncologist, has cited reports suggesting about seven people die each day in Uruguay (an estimated 5,000 people a year) from smoking-related causes including lung cancer, emphysema and other illnesses.^[62]

To help promote the plan, president Vazquez launched a campaign called "A Million Thanks," which is a reference to the number of Uruguayan smokers. So far, the campaign seems to have won these people over, as an opinion poll conducted by the Ministry of Public Health states that close to 70% of the country's smokers support the legislation.^[63]

The president was the impetus behind the government-decreed measure, which is among the world’s toughest and is similar to bans already in place in Ireland, Sweden, Norway and Spain.^[64]

 Vietnam

The Vietnamese government has banned smoking and selling cigarettes in offices, production facilities, schools, hospitals, and on public transport nationwide ^[65] Smoking was banned enclosed indoor spaces and public facilities in Ho Chi Minh City in 2005, not including entertainment areas.

The ban has also been imposed on all forms of advertisement, trade promotion, and sponsorship by tobacco companies, as well as cigarette sales through vending machines, or over telephones and on the Internet.

Outdoor smoking bans

• In the Australian state of Queensland, smoking is prohibited within four metres of entrances to public buildings, within 10 metres of children's playground equipment, in commercial outdoor eating or drinking areas, at patrolled beaches, and at all major sports stadiums.^[66]
  • Some beaches in Sydney, Australia have smoking bans in place.
  • From 1 March 2006, in Victoria, Australia smoking is banned from all covered train platforms, bus and tram stops.^[67]

• Cambridge Memorial Hospital in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada enacted a total (outdoor) smoking ban, believed to be the first in the entire province if not country, as of October 2004. At the same time, Wilfrid Laurier University in the nearby City of Waterloo proposed a similar total smoking ban on its property, after its 10 meter outdoor proximity ban (enacted in 2002) failed. WLU was presumed to be the third Canadian (public) post-secondary institution to consider such measures, after Carleton and Acadia.
  • Smoking is prohibited in Hamilton Street Railway bus shelters in Hamilton, Ontario.
  • It is illegal to smoke on a bus or in a bus shelter in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
  • It is illegal to smoke on a bus or in a bus shelter as well as any less than 4 metres from any entrance in Halifax, Nova Scotia
  • Edmonton, Alberta banned all outdoor patio smoking at bars, restaurants and casinos on July 1 2005. Nova Scotia did the same on December 1, 2006.

• Calabasas, California, United States banned smoking in almost all indoor and outdoor public places in 2006. Believed to be the strictest ban in the United States. At least 13 California cities (including LA) have banned smoking on their beaches, at least 4 other California cities (including SF) ban smoking in parks or outdoor venues. For more info see List of smoking bans in the United States#Outdoor smoking bans.
  • Belmont, California banned smoking in outdoor places on September 25, 2007. But, an important progress compared to other smoking bans was the ban in condos, apartments and every kind of multi-unit housing. ^[68][69]
  • California has banned smoking within 20 feet of any public building.

• Selected wards in Tokyo, Japan prohibit smoking on the streets. This ban is enforced and violators are fined. In response, free smoking cafes have been provided by Japan Tobacco.
  • 56% of Chiyoda ward's land area is a no smoking zone as of April 2007.^[70]

• Many English NHS PCTs ban smoking on it premises both inside and outside hospitals, even places such as the car park and bus stations. This ban is widely broken by patients.

• It is illegal to smoke on a bus or in a bus shelter in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

• It is illegal to smoke on the outdoor property of the institutions of public education in Slovenia, penalties are dictated by internal orders of the concerned institutions.

• It is illegal to smoke in Bus Shelters, Buses and Phone Boxes in Scotland. This is reported to be widely flouted.

Other bans

• South Africa which passed the Tobacco Products Control Amendment Act in 1999
• Turkmenistan, under decree from President for life Saparmurat Niyazov, has banned the chewing of tobacco.
• All public and Catholic schools in the Region of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada banned smoking on school property in the fall of 1994. A province wide smoking ban on school property is slated to begin for the 2007/2008 school year in British Columbia, Canada
• Tobacco fatwa, Iran (1891), Egypt (2000)
• Australia has a federal law prohibiting the manufacture and sale of all smokeless tobacco products. The sale of oral snuff and chewing tobacco has been banned since 1989 under the Trade Practices Act 1974.^[71]

Other restrictions

In some countries, such as Germany and Russia, bans enacted earlier allow for smoking sections in restaurants, as well as possible special rooms for use by smokers in other workplaces (though many employers prefer not to incur the costs of building and maintaining such rooms). Bangladesh has restricted smoking in pubs, cafes, offices and other public places since March 2005.

Proposed bans

In the Czech Republic, there is a bill to prohibit smoking in all public areas and in all enclosed areas in pubs, restaurants, bars and others that do not have a separate room designated for smoking that has permanent ventilation and does not have an effect on smoke-free sections. There have recently been several bills proposing similar smoking restrictions, but these have never been enacted by the Chamber of Deputies.^[72]

New Caledonia is likely to introduce restrictions on smoking in public places following a recent 25-nation global air-quality monitoring initiative.^[73]

See also

• Smokeasy

References