Smoke-free

On April 15, 2006, New Jersey banned smoking in indoor public places and workplaces.

For a copy of the Smoke-Free Air Act, official "No Smoking" signs, guides for workplaces, restaurants and bars go to:
Smoke-free Air Act Initiative

As of January 12, 2007, there are 20 other states, plus the District of Columbia, with laws in effect that require 100% smokefree workplaces and/or restaurants and/or bars:

California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Hawaii
Idaho
Louisiana
Maine
Massachusetts
Montana
Nevada
New York
North Dakota
Ohio
Rhode Island
South Dakota
Utah
Vermont
Washington
Washington D.C.

Arizona, Montana, Puerto Rico and Utah enacted laws which are scheduled to go into effect over the next 3 years.

Countries that have introduced bans on smoking in public places are Sweden, Norway, Uganda, Bhutan, Italy, Malta, Cuba, New Zealand, Ireland, Bangladesh and Uruguay.

Westin Hotels & Resorts is the first hotel chain to introduce a brand wide smoke-free policy. Effective January 2006, all 77 Westin hotels in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean became 100% smoke-free including all guestrooms and public areas. Westin consumer data shows that 92% of its guests request a non-smoking room when traveling and do not smoke in any part of the hotel, including public areas. In addition, Westin conducted a Smoke-Free Poll that shows the majority of consumers who travel prefer a smoke-free environment.

Westin Hotels & Resorts

Marriott International Inc. will make all of its hotels in the United States and Canada entirely non-smoking, beginning in September. Marriott based in Bethesda, Md., said more than 90 percent of its guest rooms are already non-smoking. It said more customers have been demanding non-smoking rooms. The change covers Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, Courtyard, Residence Inn and Fairfield Inn.

On September 14, 2006, Philadelphia became the latest U.S. city to ban smoking in most public places.Exemptions include sidewalk cafes, specialty tobacco establishments, private clubs and casinos. Neighborhood taverns, defined as those that get at least 90 percent of their revenues from drinks alone, are exempt for two years.

Source: The Associated Press

Bangor, Maine has passed an ordinance, which takes effect on Jan. 19, 2007, allowing the police to stop cars if an adult is smoking while a child under 18 is a passenger. The smoker can be fined $50.