New York - Statewide Smoking Ban

Statewide smoking ban: Effective April 1, 2003, smoking is banned statewide in all enclosed workplaces in New York, including all bars and restaurants. The law exempts (1) private homes and automobiles, (2) hotel/motel rooms, (3) retail tobacco businesses, (4) private clubs, (5) cigar bars, (6) outdoor areas of restaurants and bars, and (7) enclosed rooms in restaurants, bars, convention halls, etc., when hosting private functions organized for the promotion and sampling of tobacco products. Local governments may regulate smoking more stringently than the state law.

New York City, March 30, 2003, banned smoking in all enclosed workplaces, including bars and restaurants; exempts tobacco bars, owner-operated bars, separately ventilated smoking rooms in bars, private clubs with no employees, private functions organized for the promotion and sampling of tobacco products, and retail tobacco shops.