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International Smoking Bans

International Activity

Smokefree air activity is taking place not just in the United States, but is increasing all over the globe. In the past year, Ireland and Norway became the first countries to enact comprehensive smokefree indoor air laws. Other countries throughout Europe, Asia, North America, and the Pacific have taken action to reduce exposure to secondhand smoke in workplaces and public places.
Canada*
British Columbia Restaurants and bars have smoking rooms.
Manitoba (Winnipeg) All restaurants and bars must be 100% smokefree.
New Brunswick All restaurants and bars must be 100% smokefree.
Nunavut All restaurants and bars must be 100% smokefree.
Northwest Territories All restaurants and bars must be 100% smokefree.
Nova Scotia No smokefree protection in restaurants and bars.
Ontario Restaurants and bars have smoking rooms. Legislation to make all workplaces – including, but not limited to, restaurants and bars – 100% smokefree was introduced on December 17, 2004. If passed, the smokefree law will go into effect on May 31, 2006.
Saskatchewan All restaurants and bars must be 100% smokefree.
Quebec No smokefree protection in restaurants and bars.
 
Smokefree status is based on information provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World
Health Organization, and web searches.

Negotiated under the backing of the WHO, the FCTC is the first international public health treaty designed to reduce
tobacco-related disease and death around the world by imposing restrictions on tobacco advertising, sponsorship and
promotion; establishing new packaging and labeling requirements for tobacco products; strengthening smokefree indoor air laws to protect the public from secondhand smoke exposure; and strengthening tobacco smuggling legislation. The FCTC went into effect on February 27, 2005.
 
Central and South Americas
Brazile Restaurants and bars have separate smoking areas.
Costa Rica No smokefree protection in restaurants and bars.
Guatemala No smokefree protection in restaurants and bars.
Mexico* No smokefree protection in restaurants and bars.
Peru* No smokefree protection in restaurants and bars.
   
 
Europe
Czech Republic The lower chamber of the Czech Republic passed a bill making restaurants and bars smokefree. Restaurants, cafes, and will have to have separate designated rooms for smoking. If adopted, the bill will go into effect in 2006.
England* Smoke free in all indoor places as of July 1, 2007
France* Restaurants and bars have smoking areas.
Germany* Smoking is partially restricted in restaurants, bars, and pubs.
Greece No smokefree protection in restaurants and bars.
Italy Restaurants and bars may have smoking areas but, if so, they must be
completely enclosed and separately ventilated.
Ireland All restaurants and bars must be 100% smokefree.
Montenegro All restaurants and bars must be 100% smokefree.
Norway* All restaurants and bars must be 100% smokefree.
Russia No smokefree protection in restaurants and bars.
Scotland* All restaurants and bars must be 100% smokefree (as of 4/06).
Serbia All restaurants and bars must be 100% smokefree.
Spain* No smokefree protection in restaurants and bars. Talks for adopting
100% smokefree workplaces law are scheduled for 2005.
Sweden* All restaurants and bars must be 100% smokefree.
Wales* No smokefree protection in restaurants and bars. Discussions for making
all restaurants and pubs that prepare and serve food smokefree are
underway. If the proposed law is passed, food establishments will
become smokefree by 2008
   
 
Africa
Kenya* No smokefree protections in restaurants and bars. Legislation to restrict
smoking in restaurants and bars is under discussion.
Nigeria No smokefree protections in restaurants and bars.
South Africa* Restaurants and bars have separately ventilated smoking areas.
Uganda All restaurants and bars must be 100% smokefree.
United Republic of Tanzania Restaurants have designated smoking areas.
   
 
Middle East
Egypt* Smoking is not allowed in enclosed public places, as specified by the Secretary of State for Health.
Iran All restaurants and bars must be 100% smokefree.
Israel Smoking is permitted in the management areas of restaurants. Eating areas must be smokefree. Bars have smoking areas.
   
 
South Asia
Bangladesh* Most public places are smokefree. Currently, there is no smokefree
protection for food establishments, but discussions for making
restaurants smokefree are underway.
Bhutan* All restaurants and bars must be 100% smokefree.
India* No smokefree protection in restaurants and bars.
Maldives* The following islands have 100% smokefree restaurants and bars:
Hathifushi, Haa Alifu atoll Berinmadhoo, Haa Dhaalu atoll
Nolhivaramfaru, and Meemu atoll Madhifushi. Smoking is prohibited
in all Maldive Island restaurants that are “air-conditioned.”
   
 
East Asia and the Western Pacific
China No smokefree protection in restaurants and bars.
Fiji* Restaurants have smoking areas. No restrictions in bars.
Hong Kong Legislation making all restaurants and bars smokefree is pending.
(Enactment is scheduled for 10/06.)
Indonesia No smokefree protection in restaurants and bars.
Japan* No smokefree protection in restaurants and bars.
New Zealand* All restaurants and bars must be 100% smokefree.
Philippines* No smokefree protection in restaurants and bars.
Singapore* All “air conditioned” restaurants must be 100% smokefree. The
Singapore government is considering extending its smokefree law to
include pubs.
Taiwan Restaurants have smoking areas. No restrictions in bars.
Thailand* All restaurants must be 75% nonsmoking. No restrictions in bars.
Vietnam* No smokefree protection in restaurants and bars.
   
 
Australia*
Capital All restaurants and bars must be 100% smokefree (as of 12/06).
New South Wales All restaurants, bars, and pubs must be 100% smokefree (as of 7/07).
Queensland All restaurants, bars, and pubs must be 100% smokefree (as of 7/07).
Victoria All restaurants, bars, and pubs must be 100% smokefree (as of 7/07).
Victoria All restaurants and bars must be 100% smokefree (as of 12/06).
   
 
 
 
**BPAA Disclaimer
Links attached to the BPAA Smoking Ban Legislation website does not constitute endorsement by the Bowling Proprietors Association of America of the goals and objectives of the linked website. The links are provided for our members to have access to the most current information regarding smoking ban legislation in their State, City or County. In our research, we have found the links provided on our website to be the most complete and current.