A Global Guide to Smoke-Unfriendly Places

From European Cigar Cult Magazine comes a handy guide to anti-smoking laws around the world. If your holiday plans include a visit to any of these places, your cigar lighter will get very little use:

EUROPE

European Union Plans

Brussels is considering an EU-wide smoking ban in restaurants and other enclosed spaces. The Health Committee of the EU Parliament has called upon the EU Commission to classify tobacco smoke a first-category carcinogenic substance (equivalent to asbestos and benzene) as soon as possible.

EU Public Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou told the EU policy portal EurActiv that it was his ambition to have smoking bans introduced in all EU member states by the end of his term in 2009.

Belgium

Belgium intends to impose a smoking ban on all restaurants from 2007 onwards, which will allow smoking in cafés and snack bars only under certain conditions. At present, smoking zones in restaurants may only be set up if they take up no more than 25 percent of all seats. Similar regulations apply to bistros, where half of all seats have to be smoke free.

Germany

By law, only smoking at places of employment is regulated. However, a smoking ban in public places is already in the making. It is intended to make forty percent of all seats (two out of five) in bars and restaurants smoke-free.

France

Since 1992, there have been smokers’ islands and/or non-smoking sections established in the restaurant business which were stipulated by law; however, this law is hardly followed. France is less tolerant when dealing with the advertising ban for tobacco (there are strict advertising restrictions for alcohol). A fine was levied on a newspaper because it published a sports photo where the logo of a cigarette brand could be seen!

Great Britain

It is planned to ban smoking in Great Britain in all restaurants and pubs (except those which serve no food or only cold food). At the end of 2004, John Reid, the Secretary of State for Health, announced his intention to push a corresponding law through by 2008. The prohibition should come into force progressively. The Scottish Parliament imposed a ban on smoking in all public places, which will be introduced by the spring of 2006. London Mayor Ken Livingstone wants to push through a total prohibition á la New York City. Wales has not enforced any smoking ban yet.

Ireland

On March 29, 2004 Ireland imposed Europe’s strictest ban on smoking – it applies to all public buildings, public transport, restaurants, pubs and workplaces. Violations are punished with fines of up to 3,000 Euros.

Italy

Current: Consumer protectionists are calling for a smoking ban at the steering wheel! Since December 12, 2004 a complete ban on smoking on all Italian trains has been in force. Since January 10, 2005 a strict smoking ban has been in effect in all restaurants (except for smoking rooms with a separate ventilation system) and public buildings. By law and the threat of punishment, owners of restaurants and bars were demoted into auxiliary policemen. Those caught not “reporting” a smoking visitor will be fined up to 2,200 Euros.

Latvia

From July 1, 2006 onwards, smoking will only be allowed in restaurants, bars, cafés and discotheques which have set up separate smoking rooms with ventilation systems. Moreover, smoking will be prohibited in public buildings such as cinemas, theatres, banks, post offices and sport stadiums. Smokers lighting up in the open air will have to keep a minimum of a 10-metre-distance to public buildings. Furthermore, smoking will no longer be allowed in staircases.

Mallorca

On July 10, 2005 Mallorca imposed a smoking ban on almost all public places and workplaces all over the Baleares Islands, which requires municipal buildings, offices, banks, pubs, cafés and restaurants to be smoke free. Only establishments which prepare or serve no food, i.e. cocktail bars and discotheques, are exempted. Severe violations will be punished with extremely high fines of up to one million Euros.

Malta

Since April 5, 2005 a strict smoking ban has been in force in all buildings open to the public. The same applies to hotels, restaurants, pubs, discotheques, bars and night clubs, where smoking is only allowed in specially designated smoking areas.

Netherlands

Tobacco consumption should be reduced by 70 percent by the end of 2008. Since 2004, there has been a smoking prohibition in effect in public buildings and offices. From 2006 onwards, there should be smoking areas required in pubs and restaurants.

Norway

Since June 1, 2004 smoking in restaurants and bars has no longer been allowed. In case of violations restaurant owners, and not smokers are fined. Wilful and repeat violations of the anti tobacco law could lead to the closure of the establishments concerned.

Austria

Since January 1, 2005 smoking in public buildings and at places of employment has no longer been allowed, and district administration authorities can levy fines of up to 720 Euros – however, only from 2007 onwards. By 2007, the restaurant business promises to introduce non-smoker sections in 90 percent of the approximately 30,000 restaurants larger than 75 square meters in size (two-fifths of all seats should be reserved for non-smokers).

Portugal

It is expected that Portugal will ban smoking from public places from mid 2005 onwards, and there are even plans to prohibit smoking in all public places by threat of punishment.

Sweden

The Swedish Parliament has passed a smoking ban on bars, cafés and restaurants, which was enforced on June 1, 2005. However, smoking is still allowed in the outdoor areas of restaurants, cafés and pubs, and separate smoking rooms may be set up. There are no fines levied yet for violations. By the way, the government is considering a tax on sugar and fat to prevent the Swedes from living so unhealthily in the future.

Switzerland

From December 11, 2005 onwards it will be forbidden to smoke on all public transport in Switzerland. This smoking ban also applies to railway stations.

Spain

Since February 2005, there has been a general smoking ban on all trains which have routes shorter than five hours. On April 22, 2005 the Spanish government passed a new tobacco control law, which implies a general advertising ban on tobacco products as well as a smoking prohibition in all workplaces and public buildings. Separate smoking zones may only be set up in restaurants and bars larger than 100 metres in size and in public buildings that are not accessed by children. This law is planned to be enforced in 2006.

Czech Republic

Smoking will be prohibited in all public buildings and places such as schools, cinemas, theatres and sports halls as well as at railway stations, tram and bus stops. An anti smoking regulation has been in force since 1989, which requires offices with non-smokers to be smoke free zones.

Hungary

“No smoking“ applies to all public buildings.

In Romania, Luxembourg and Turkey, there are no strict anti-smoking laws. Decisions pertaining to this are normally left to the respective party responsible.

Here is the European view on our situation here in the U.S. This information is already outdated, not reflecting the recent Washington legislation outlawing all indoor smoking, not to mention pending anti-smoking laws in other places around the country. We seem to be following after Europe very quickly.

United States

Smoking is prohibited in all public buildings, and strict overall bans on smoking in public have been enforced by the states of New York and California.

California

The city of Santa Monica has combated smoking at its beaches since spring 2004, where fines for smokers can be as high as 250 US dollars. Los Angeles already has a 21-kilometer, smoke-free beach area, and many communities around San Diego have followed suit. Smoking is soon to be banned on all Californian beaches.

San Francisco is the first large American city to have prohibited smoking in parks and public places. Violations should be punished with a fine of 100 dollars. Repeat offenders face a fine of up to 500 dollars.

Georgia

Since July 1, 2005: Smoking is prohibited in all enclosed areas where “the public is invited or in which the public is permitted”, such as restaurants, bars, banks, retail shops, businesses, malls, public transportation and educational facilities. Private clubs, military clubs and retail tobacco stores are exempted. Restaurants and bars can permit smoking if they have a room with its own ventilation or if they don’t admit or employ anyone under 18.

Smokers, not businesses, will be cited and possibly fined $100 to $500 for violations.

We will continue adding information on further smoking bans in the USA (especially new ones) from this point forwards, on an ongoing basis.

As I said, if they are going to keep up with new smoking bans in the U.S. on an ongoing basis…they’re going to be quite busy.

Here’s the situation in the rest of the world.

OTHER NATIONS

Australia

The city government of Sydney is adopting the idea of the anti-smoking regulations enforced in California. The popular beaches of Manly and Bondi are to become smoke-free areas. However, it is not yet certain when such a ban will be implemented.

Bhutan

Since December 17, 2004 smoking in public and sales of tobacco products have been prohibited in the Kingdom of Bhutan. Smoking is only allowed within one’s own four walls, and, moreover, smokers have to purchase tobacco products abroad, which are levied with a 100 percent import tax. Violations are punished with fines of up to 225 US-$. At the time the new law was passed, the percentage of smokers in Bhutan amounted to seven percent.

India

Since May 2004, smoking in public places, advertising of tobacco products and sales of cigarettes to young people have been banned. Furthermore, Secretary of Health Anbumani Ramadoss intends to prohibit smoking in TV shows and films.

Canada

In some areas of Canada (British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Québec, and parts of Ontario) there are strict smoking bans on smoking in public buildings, bars and discotheques and restaurants.

Kenya

The East African governments have declared war on smokers. Uganda passed an anti-smoking law that prohibits smoking in public places in 2004, however, it has not been enforced yet. According to the BBC Online Kenya now plans to push through severe limitations for smokers. These will comprise a 15 percent increase of the tobacco tax and a ban on smoking in all public buildings.

Cuba

Since February 7, 2005 smoking has been prohibited in theatres, shops, busses and taxis. Restaurants will be required to set up special smoking sections.

New Zealand

Smoking has been banned in restaurants, pubs and public buildings since December 12, 2004. To maintain their smoking clientele many restaurant owners have already extended their establishments by terraces and balconies and face hefty fines in case they violate the law.