Smoking Bans

List of smoking bans in various countries

England and Wales

16 November 2004

Public Health white paper proposed a smoking ban in almost all public places.

Smoking restrictions would be phased in, with a ban on smoking in NHS and government buildings by 2006, in enclosed public places by 2007, and with the restrictions on smoking in licensed premises introduced by the end of 2008. Up to 90% of public bars could be affected; smoking would still be allowed in pubs which limit their food sales to snacks such as crisps, rather than prepared meals.

There was supposed to be wide consultation, including with the catering and pro-smoking lobby.

26 October 2005

Government announces plans to go ahead

All workplaces, including restaurants and pubs selling food, to have a ban in place by summer 2007, but non-food pubs and private members clubs would be exempt, and the concept of "smoking rooms" to be examined.

Ban to be reviewed within three years of being introduced.

Chief medical officer reconsiders resigning over the lack of a full ban. Considers the fact he was "ignored" put him in a difficult decision - no mention of what sort of position others that were ignored were put in.

14 February 2006

Proposed extension to the ban to all enclosed public spaces except private members clubs voted through with a majority.

Subsequent proposed extension to include the ban private members clubs also voted through with a majority, overriding the previous proposal. This was then passed by the House of Lords.

30 November 2006

Ban announced to start the following July.

1 July 2007

A total ban on smoking tobacco products of any kind in an enclosed 'public' space or a space where 50% or more of the sides of the space were enclosed by walls introduced.

This includes, not only 'public' buildings, but 'buildings where members of the public might go' such as public houses (pubs), shops, and bus stops that fit the 50% sides rule. Even some phone boxes were covered by the ban.

Ireland

In Cars - 27 June 2012

Minister for Health James Reilly was given the go-ahead to draw up amendments to a Seanad Private Members' Bill on the issue.

He said he favoured introducing legislation, as early as possible next year, to ban smoking in cars when children are present.

The minister said the State had a duty of care to minors and he wanted to start a public debate on the issue.

However, he is not proposing a total ban, as suggested in some newspaper reports today.

No thoughts on how this will be implemented if enacted since, as pointed out elsewhere it's difficult to see if there are children in a car - certainly from a distance - so maybe sport-checks will be the order of the day?

Since this is going to be labor intensive then a full-ban on smoking in cars will be the next move.

United States

Delray Beach, Florida - Ban on hiring smokers - 3 Oct 2012

It's too late for butts: a South Florida city has banned the hiring of employees who smoke or use tobacco products in an effort to save on insurance.

Delray Beach City Commissioners made official Tuesday a policy that refuses city agencies the right hire a person who has smoked in the year before employment.

The ban is meant to help save the cash-strapped city on health insurance premium fees. Human Resources director Bruce Koeser told NBC 6 that each smoker costs an extra $12,000 in health and disability-related costs.

Santa Monica, California - Smoking in your own house - 12 July 2012

Tenants of multi-family housing complexes will be required to publically disclose if they smoke under new regulations adopted Tuesday in an initial 4-2 vote by the Santa Monica City Council.

The new rules—which require a second vote before becoming law—ban smoking in all newly constructed units and those left vacant after the new rules are officially adopted.

[...]

Units occupied by residents who fail to disclose their smoking statuses will automatically become "non-smoking." And, every unit that becomes vacant after the law is passed, will be designated "non-smoking"—regardless of its prior designation.

"You might as well hammer a big yellow S on their front doors," said McKeown.

Those who smoke in "non-smoking" units will face a $100 fine. Repeat offenders will be subject to citations as high as $500.

Update 24 July 2012 - there appears to have been a temporary reprieve:

But the ordinance required a second vote before becoming law, and in what Mayor Richard Bloom called a "very unusual move," the ordinance failed on its second pass.

"What we’re simply doing is giving more thought to this," said City Councilwoman Gleam Davis, who was absent from the previous meeting.

Bloom and City Councilman Terry O'Day supported the rules July 10, but changed course Tuesday, saying they now believe the council needs to better assess how the smoking ordinance would affect medicinal marijuana users and landlords.

[...]

Councilman Bob Holbrook said he would not be deterred in his support for the regulations after receiving emails from longtime residents referring to him as a "Nazi" and "Hitler."

"My motive is strictly a public health measure," he said. "It’s just time that we made homes and living spaces safe for people... we [would] certainly save them a lifetime of diseases that’s going to occur for sure."

Fort Worth, Texas - Proposed ban on hiring smokers - 16 April 2012

City employees who take a smoke break are fuming over a new idea to make Fort Worth a tobacco-free work place by not hiring smokers.

[...]

Mayor Betsy Price has made it her mission to make Fort Worth a healthier city.

"Certainly we put tax-payer dollars into health care for our employees, and anything that might benefit the health to make our employees more protective and healthy, we're going to take a look at," she said.

But in an informal report expected to be delivered during Tuesday's pre-Council meeting, the mayor said Fort Worth's human resources department is examining hiring policies as part of its overall health care strategy.

Hospitals in general - Ban on hiring smokers - Feb 2012

Smokers now face another risk from their habit: it could cost them a shot at a job.

More hospitals and medical businesses in many states are adopting strict policies that make smoking a reason to turn away job applicants, saying they want to increase worker productivity, reduce health care costs and encourage healthier living.

The policies reflect a frustration that softer efforts — like banning smoking on company grounds, offering cessation programs and increasing health care premiums for smokers — have not been powerful-enough incentives to quit.

The new rules essentially treat cigarettes like an illegal narcotic.

Australia

Australia was the first country to legislate for plain packaging.

Canada

Vancouver - Parks - 1 September 2010

The Vancouver Park Board has voted to ban smoking at city parks and beaches.

The park commissioners voted in favour of the ban at a board meeting Monday night, acting on a staff recommendation to ban smoking in those areas for medical and environmental reasons.