A Modern Chronicle of the Worldwide Urban Smoking Ban

On January 2, Paris, one of the world's smoking capitals (besides Moscow and Havana of course), implemented a smoking ban that includes all cafes, restaurants, clubs, and bars. The ban caused quite an uproar with the skinny, tobacco-lovin' cafe set, but it looks like this whole nonsmoking movement has reached a tipping point as cities from Dublin to Berlin to Atlantic City to Flagstaff have forced their smokers to take it outside. Every city that passes a ban encounters the usual opposition from a) smokers who don't want to be forced into the cold for a cig, b) libertarians who are sick and tired of nanny states interfering in their personal lives, and c) bar and club owners who fear decreased smoking = decreased business. The proponents (who tend to win these battles) argue that smokers hurt the general public by producing secondhand smoke and stinking up everyone's hair and clothes.

To illustrate how the contemporary smoking ban went from just a crazy idea a decade ago -- when California became the first state with a ban encompassing all workplaces, restaurants, and bars -- to the widespread phenomenon it is now, I've created a fun and informative timeline listing some of the biggest cities in the world to ban smoking in almost all areas of social life, along with some of the notable dissenters. For a complete list, go here.

1998
Los Angeles & San Francisco: California was the first state to pass a smoking ban that includes all workplaces, restaurants, bars, and clubs (though it took awhile to take hold).

2003
New York: In March, New York City, helped along by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and health czar Dr. Thomas Frieden, implemented a smoking ban including all restaurants, bars, pool halls and bowling alleys, and company cars. Like in Paris now, many smokers decried the ban, and one man was even killed because of it.

Boston: Coming right on the heels of the New York ban, Boston banned smoking in all restaurants and bars. A statewide ban followed in 2004.

2004
Dublin: Ireland was the first country to ban smoking in all workplaces, bars, and restaurants and became an example for other cities and countries in Europe.

Wellington: Following in the footsteps of Ireland (and later Norway), New Zealand was the third country to ban smoking in bars and restaurants.

2006
Denver: Denver proposed and almost passed a smoking ban in 2002 but didn't become entirely smoke-free until the state passed the Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act. It went into effect on July 1, 2006, and prohibits smoking in workplaces and indoor public places, including bars and restaurants

2007
Washington DC: The District of Columbia passed their smoking ban in early 2006 and gave all bars and restaurants until January 1, 2007, to prepare.

Philadelphia: The latest and most comprehensive of the city's smoking bans went into effect January 8, 2007. The only exceptions go to establishments that make at least 90% of their gross revenues from alcohol sales.

Atlantic City: Many in New Jersey and in Atlantic City wanted to pass an all-encompassing smoking ban that would prohibit smoking in all bars, clubs, restaurants, and casinos. As expected however, casino owners and their lobbyists got their way, and a compromise bill was passed allowing smoking on 25% of gaming floors. Those spaces must be physically separate and well ventilated. The law went into effect in April 2007.

Phoenix: Arizona's statewide ban, which passed in November 2006, went into effect in May 2007.

London: London, a major smoker city, went smoke-free on July 1, 2007, with the usual opposition from pub owners and heavy smokers.

Copenhagen: Denmark implemented a nationwide smoking ban in bars, clubs, and restaurants in August 2007.

2008
Paris: France just implemented their smoking ban, and the Parisians are not happy about it.

Berlin: Berlin, along with cities in eight other German states, banned smoking in public spaces, including bar and restaurants. The ban went into effect January 1.

Chicago: Chicago has passed a few variations of smoking bans over the years, all of which exempted clubs and gave bars until July 2008 to install filtration systems. However, their efforts were overridden by a statewide law banning smoking in all clubs, bars, and restaurants, which went into effect January 1, 2008.

Baltimore: Baltimore passed its smoking ban last February, and it went into effect January 1. The rest of the state will follow suit on February 1.

Notable Exceptions
Michigan: Legislation to ban smoking in both the workplace and in bars and restaurants in Michigan had been on the books since 2000 and finally died in Congress on December 10, 2007.

Nebraska: Nebraska rejected a smoking ban in restaurants and bars in 2000, 2001, and 2005.

Pennsylvania: The state of Pennsylvania passed a law stating no local governments outside of Philly and Pittsburgh could pass smoking bans, nullifying two existing county bans.

[Photo: Getty]