Yesterday Louisville passed a comprehensive smoking ban that will ban smoking from all public buildings, bars, and restaurants. The only exceptions are private homes and ironically, Churchill Downs.

Anyways, does your city have a smoking ban? If so, for how long have you had it, and does it ban smoking everywhere or does it allow for exemptions?

My entire state has an indoor smoking ban in public buildings. I love it and most people I know (even many smokers) do too.

The whole state of Connecticut has a smoking ban in public places.

Only businesses with less than 5 employees are exempt...

California has been smoke free for years. When the state first went smoke free we were mocked. Now, other places are tripping over each other to catch up to us.

I think smoking is banned in all public buildings in Utah. I have no idea how long it's been in effect. It's nice walking in to a restaraunt and not always being asked "smoking or non-smoking?"

In San Diego beaches and parks will become no-smoking zones after the City Council voted to ban the practice, citing public health and the environment.

I'd like a ban on heavy automobile exhaust in public places. I'm pretty sure that's going to give me cancer before the second-hand cigarrette smoke does.

Dumb. The business owner should be the one who chooses...not the government.

Dumb. The business owner should be the one who chooses...not the government.

Second hand smoke is a legitimate health concern. OSHA and state health departments should do their job and put in place public smoking bans, just as they enforce other safety hazards, instead of punting this issue to politicians.

Wheeling has a smoking ban.

So thats it? As I understand it, many large cities do not have a smoking ban. I know Chicago doesnt. How about Atlanta? Dallas? Houston? Lets here it people! :)

Parts of the Twin Cities area have smoking bans, but it's far from unified and the laws change from county to county and city to city.

Hennepin County bans smoking in all establishments that sell more food than liquor, although at one time the ordinance covered bars as well, but was recently and controvertially lifted after outrage from bar owners over steep losses in business.

The city of Minneapolis and the suburbs of Golden Valley and Bloomington have bans indepedent from Hennepin County which ban smoking in all indoor areas, including bars, and in some cases outdoor dining is covered as well.

Adjacent Ramsey County (St. Paul) bans smoking only in restaurants after witnessing the detrimental effects it had on bars Hennepin County.

Several other cities have smoking bans in Minnesota, too, but in my opinion I think we should just make the entire state smoke-free and get it over with.

I just moved to Houston and was told that there IS a smoking ban in restaurants and bars...but almost every place I've been to, I see people smoking! - that's a good thing, I smoke too-

Parts of the Twin Cities area have smoking bans, but it's far from unified and the laws change from county to county and city to city.

Hennepin County bans smoking in all establishments that sell more food than liquor, although at one time the ordinance covered bars as well, but was recently and controvertially lifted after outrage from bar owners over steep losses in business.

The city of Minneapolis and the suburbs of Golden Valley and Bloomington have bans indepedent from Hennepin County which ban smoking in all indoor areas, including bars, and in some cases outdoor dining is covered as well.

Adjacent Ramsey County (St. Paul) bans smoking only in restaurants after witnessing the detrimental effects it had on bars Hennepin County.

Several other cities have smoking bans in Minnesota, too, but in my opinion I think we should just make the entire state smoke-free and get it over with.


I was actually talking about core cities here. What is the situation in minneapolis PROPER?

In Louisville (includes Jefferson County), currently smoking is banned in all restuarants that do not make more than 25% of slaes on liquor. Obviously this exempts all bars and lounges. However, a COMPREHENSIVE smoking ban passed the other day. By next July, the entire city will ban smoking in every indoor building except private homes and Churchill Downs. Many of our suburban counties are moving to pass bans, with Jeffersonville (Clark county in Indiana) being a leader. It looks like Oldham County, KY and its many suburbs like Crestwood and La Grange are next. It may be awhile before other metro counties join the ban.

Chicago just banned smoking in the womb

I was actually talking about core cities here. What is the situation in minneapolis PROPER?



He answered your question. Read it again.:)

I'm not sure but I think Pennsylvania does have a smoking ban on public places, or at least where I live they do!

I don't know if it's statewide, but at least all the counties of of southeastern NY do, including NYC.

Oklahoma (you may have heard of OKC and Tulsa before) has been breathing smoke-free for about a year and a half. We had one of the more interesting smoking laws, that I think Texas tried to copy cat--where places could have smoking sections, but they must be sealed off from the rest of the restaurant, and must be served by a seperate AC/Heating and ventilation system.

^^
That was what Louisville did with its first ban, but I think this new one throws out the closed off sections. Its a rather dumb idea cause who wants to be isolated in a little box just so they can puff their cig?..

Oklahoma (you may have heard of OKC and Tulsa before) has been breathing smoke-free for about a year and a half. We had one of the more interesting smoking laws, that I think Texas tried to copy cat--where places could have smoking sections, but they must be sealed off from the rest of the restaurant, and must be served by a seperate AC/Heating and ventilation system.

Smoking bans are not only about the customer; but, also about the worker. The problem with the OKC/Tulsa so-called smoking ban is it doesn't protect the workers who must work in the smoking sections.

I don't know if it's statewide, but at least all the counties of of southeastern NY do, including NYC.

Yes, New York has a smoking ban statewide. It was actually one of the first states to do so...

Except for Pennsylvania, which has no statewide smoking ban, there is a large stretch of smoking bans from DC to Massachusetts. I'm not applauding it, but that truly is something...

Starting Oct. 1st, Minnesota will become the 20th state to ban smoking in public indoor spaces.

Looks like this will give Minnesotans another reason to run for the Wisconsin border other than for legal fireworks and cheese.

Maryland just passed a statewide smoking ban even though some of the counties were ahead of the game. I love it. I can go to a club or bar and not smell like I pulled a double at RJ Reynolds the next day. In DC, it has not hurt the bar owners at all. In fact, business is still the same. Most of the patrons just go outside when they want to smoke.

Smoking ban in Seattle. Thank god because some places made me sick. Now I can go to any restaurant and not come out smelling like a stinking chimney.

Except for Pennsylvania, which has no statewide smoking ban, there is a large stretch of smoking bans from DC to Massachusetts. I'm not applauding it, but that truly is something...
Philadelphia has a smoking ban

I haven't smoked since 1993, except for an occasional cigar, but a smoking ban in bars is stupid.......Even in restaurants, there should be a smoking and a non-smoking section.....

The State of Georgia has a ban on smoking in public buildings, but exempts bars and restaurants. I think Atlanta has passed a stricter ban since then, but I'm not 100% sure. Some metro Atlanta counties have banned smoking in bars, public parks and other public places. There are several Atlanta bars and restaurant that have advertised a smoke-free environment for years...

I haven't smoked since 1993, except for an occasional cigar, but a smoking ban in bars is stupid.......Even in restaurants, there should be a smoking and a non-smoking section.....

It's not stupid if you are a non-smoking employee. Baltimore is smoke free starting January, 2008 and I can't wait!

Ditto. I can't wait either. I hate being subjected to cigarette smokine, even moreso now that I have a child. I was basically forced to forgo going to all restaurants in South Baltimore where I live because they are all restaurant/bar and people would be smoking right next to me and my son. So I had to drive to the burbs to go out to eat. hated it. can't wait for freedom.

Smoking is for rubes. :)