Smoking bans are neither a UK nor an Irish phenomenon. Increasingly, over the past decade or so, restrictions on where you can smoke have been introduced throughout the world. California led the way, banning smoking in most indoor public places in the Nineties. Other states, including New York (in 2003) followed California's example, as did individual states and provinces in Australia and Canada.
Ireland, in 2004, was the first country to introduce a comprehensive ban on smoking in all enclosed public places; quickly followed by Scotland (2006) and the rest of the United Kingdom in 2007. New Zealand was another English-speaking country to jump on the bandwagon.
Europe
In March 2004 Ireland became the first EU country to implement a comprehensive ban on smoking in all enclosed public places. Greece has announced that it will introduce a public smoking ban in July 2008.
In
Spain, smoking is still permitted in theatres, designated areas in
airports and bus stations, and in bars and restaurants where the area
is greater than 100m2.
Separate smoking areas must be
provided in Belgium, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, France,
Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Slovenia.
Smoking in public places in Italy, Malta and Sweden must be in separate ventilated smoking rooms.
Hungary, Poland and Finland have various exemptions for the hospitality industry.
United States
Twelve states have passed smoke-free workplace legislation that includes offices, restaurants, bars, bingo halls, bowling alleys, nightclubs, casinos and public transportation.
New York City banned smoking in restaurants, bars, bowling alleys, pool halls and company cars in 2003. New York City law also bans ashtrays and some establishments have been fined for having clean, empty ashtrays locked up in back rooms.
California has some of the toughest and most extensive anti-smoking legislation anywhere in the world. The state has banned smoking in all workplaces, including bars and restaurants, gambling clubs, casinos and bar-restaurant combinations.
Outdoor smoking is banned within 20 feet (6m) of all public and state-owned buildings entrances, exits, 'operable windows' and air intakes. Smoking is prohibited within 25 feet (8m) of playgrounds and sandboxes throughout the state. Increasingly this has been extended to parks and other outdoor areas.
In 2006, the California city of Calabasas enacted a near-complete ban on smoking in public places including outdoors (although its citizens still have ample space to smoke in their gated communities and large homes). Anti-smoking campaigners are hailing Calabasas as a model for communities everywhere.
Rest of the world
Iran banned smoking in public buildings and tobacco advertising in 2003. Smoking is not allowed in religious and administrative buildings, as well as hotels, restaurants, department stores, airports, cinemas and sports centres.
But in July 2005, it was reported by the semi-official Fars agency that the existing ban on smoking tobacco in public places had been modified to allow for "consumption in restaurants and traditional cafes".
Prohibition of tobacco
The Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan became the first country in the world to ban the sale of tobacco products nationwide in December 2004. Then the government announced smoke-free legislation in all places where people gather: parks, discotheques, entertainment centres, shops, and bars and restaurants. Also included in the ban are institutions like hospitals, schools and government offices.
Smoking is banned on public transport, at public gatherings, official receptions, national celebrations and vegetable markets. Smoking corners will be prohibited, in what is seen to be a further move towards making Bhutan a smoke-free nation.
Though enforcing the ban has proved a struggle. According to the Bhutanese news site Kuensel Online, smoking is gradually being allowed again in poolrooms, discotheques, bars and restaurants as owners tire of trying to uphold the ban. And they report that the sale of under the counter cigarettes is spreading.