List of smoking bans
The following is a list of smoking bans.
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.[1] 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.
- 2005: Companies should have implemented smoking plans to discourage smoking
- 2006 jan: Smoking prohibited in the work area
- 2007 jan: Smoking banned out of restaurants
- 2008 sept: Smoking no longer allowed at schools (including employees)
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.
Smoking in indoor workplaces and public places is banned in most provinces.
- 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.
- Alberta bans smoking in all workplaces, except for those places where minors under 18 aren't allowed to enter. It exempts bars, casinos and bingo halls.
- Yukon
- Whitehorse banned as of January 2005 in all indoor public places, including restaurants and bars.
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.
Smoking has been banned in indoor public areas and workplaces from 1 March, 1995, except in restaurants. Smoking will be banned in all indoor public and workplaces, including bars, cafes, clubs and restaurants from 1 June, 2007.
France, from 1 February 2007, tightened the existing ban on smoking in public places found in the 1991 Évin law:[2]
Smoking is now banned in all public places (stations, museums, etc.); an exception exists for special smoking rooms fulfilling drastic conditions; however, a special exemption is made for cafés and restaurants, clubs, casinos, bars, etc. until January 1, 2008.[3] Opinion polls suggest 70% of people support the ban.[4] Previously, under the former implementation rules of the 1991 Évin law, restaurants, cafés etc. just had to provide smoking and non-smoking sections.
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 10 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.[5]
Smoking was banned in all public places in the British Crown Dependency of Guernsey (including Alderney and Sark), 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. [6]
Smoking was banned by the HKSAR government commencing January 2007. The ban was placed in most public places including restaurants, bars, Internet cafes, public toilets, beaches and public parks.
The smoking ban in Iceland comes into effect on June 1, 2007, when the hospitality industry will become smoke-free, including restaurants, bars, clubs and cafés.
Ireland became the first country 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. This includes bars, restaurants, offices and public buildings. The maximum on-the-spot fine is €3000 (~$4,100 / ~£2,100), while a prison sentence can also be given later on. However the only places that this doesn't apply to are prisons.
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.
Smoking was banned in public places in Jersey (the British Crown Dependency), including workplaces, bars, clubs and restaurants, on 2 January 2007, under the Restriction on Smoking (Workplaces) (Jersey) Regulations 2006. Unusually, the law also bans smoking in bus shelters, phone boxes or other shelters that are more than 50% enclosed. Smoking is allowed anywhere outside and in whatever company.[7]
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. Further, smoking on public transportation is forbidden except on long-distance trains with special facilities.
The 2004 ban on smoking in bars and restaurants in New Zealand met with initial resentment from some bar owners, but was widely welcomed by the public at large.
In Norway, smoking has been banned in restaurants, bars, cafes and other public buildings since 1 June 2004.
Portugal on May 3 2007 passed a law banning smoking in almost indoor public places, such as restaurants, bars, clubs, public transportation, schools, malls, and more. This smoking ban package includes raising the legal age to purchase tobacco from 16 to 18. Restaurants above 100 meters will be able to have a smoking section, no larger than 30% of its area. It will go into force within a year. [2].
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. The ban was very popular amongst the population and even the industries affected.
Due to devolution, smoking bans in the United Kingdom have been determined on a country-by-country basis. The whole of the UK will be covered by July 1 2007.
Smoking will be banned in public places in England, including workplaces, bars, clubs and restaurants from July 1, 2007. Some places, such as bus shelters, coach stations (outside), phone boxes, hotel rooms, nursing homes and psychiatric wards are excluded. The on-the-spot fine for smoking in a workplace is £50 (~€70/~$100), £30 (~€45/~$60) if one pays with in 15 days and, while a business that allows in can be fined £2,500 (~€3,700/~$5,000). Smoking will be allowed to continue anywhere outside. See:Smoking ban in England
Smoking ban information website (smokefreeengland.co.uk)
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, and adherence is widespread. 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.
Smoking ban information website (clearingtheairscotland.com)
Smoking was banned across all enclosed public premises and work premises in Wales on April 2 2007.
Smoking ban information website (smokingbanwales.co.uk)
In Northern Ireland, an 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. The on-the-spot fine for smoking in a workplace is £50 (~€70/~$100), while a business that allows in can be fined £2,500 (~€3,700/~$5,000). An opinion poll showed that 91% of people supported the ban. [8]
Smoking ban information website (spacetobreathe.org.uk)
In the United States, the question of smoking is determined at the state or municipal level, and 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.[9]
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. [10].
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.[11]
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. [12]
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. [13]
Outdoor smoking bans
- 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. [3]
- 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.[4]
- Edmonton, Alberta, Canada 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.
- 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[5].
- 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 drastic 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
- California has banned smoking within 20 feet of any public building.
- Many English NHS PCTs ban smoking on it premises both inside and outside hospitals, even places such as the car park and the bus station.
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, since 1991 (SOMEONE CHECK THE DATES PLEASE)
Other restrictions
In some countries, such as France, Germany, the Netherlands 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), though smoking in most bars and restaurants still is allowed in the Netherlands. Bangladesh has restricted smoking in pubs, cafes, offices and other public places since March 2005.
Proposed bans
On January 3 2007, the Slovenian Ministry of Health published a draft amendment to the Law on the Restriction of the Usage of Tobacco Products, banning smoking in all public places, including bars, restaurants and others, which were previously exempt from the ban. The National Assembly is expected to confirm the amendment by the summer of 2007. [6] Template:Sl icon
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.
References
- ^ Tobaccolaws.sa.gov.au
- ^ 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.
- ^ Decree n°2006-1386 over November 15, 2006 taken as application of article L3511-7 of the Public Health Code, banning smoking in public places.
- ^ "France to ban smoking in public". Retrieved 2006-10-09.
- ^ Ruling of March 19, 2007 of the Conseil d'État (copy on Légifrance)
- ^ Information about the Guernsey smoking ban
- ^ Information about the Jersey smoking ban
- ^ [1]
- ^ News release, Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights, December 6, 2006
- ^ Uruguay curbs smoking in public
- ^ Public smoking ban takes effect in Uruguay - TobacoFree.org
- ^ Uruguay implements smoking ban - dominionpaper.ca
- ^ Uruguay smoking ban toughest in Latin America