How have smoking bans affected restaurants and bars?
William Rodriguez
Updated on April 09, 2026
Regarding this, should smoking be banned in restaurants?
Yes. The main concern behind the call for a smoking ban in restaurants and bars is the health of the staff. In fact, they are exposed to the same carcinogens as active smokers. A study found that exposure to second-hand smoke increases the risk of heart disease in non-smokers by 30 per cent.
Additionally, is smoking banned in the US? As of July 2018, 26 states have enacted statewide bans on smoking in all enclosed workplaces, including all bars and restaurants: Alaska, Arizona, California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio,
Also, what would happen to the economy if tobacco was banned?
Obviously cigarettes are huge industry in the U.S., so a total collapse of domestic demand would have serious effect on our economy. States would have decreased Medicaid costs, but would also lose the revenue they get from cigarette excise taxes, that was $13.75 billion in 2006, an overall of 1.4%.
When did the smoking ban start in the US?
1990