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Facts About Smoking in Restaurants

The issue of whether people may smoke in restaurants and bars raises many debates in the United States. While smoking in restaurants may expose nonsmokers to secondhand smoke, some people argue that banning smoking in restaurants interferes with smokers' lifestyles and choices. Smoking in restaurants is still a major health concern and point of contention for restaurant owners and the public.

  1. Statistics

    • In a July 2010 Gallup poll, 1,020 Americans were asked if smoking should be banned from bars, restaurants and hotels. Fifty-nine percent of those surveyed stated smoking should be banned in restaurants, which was up from 54 percent in 2007. Thirty-six percent of Americans said restaurants should allow smoking only in designated and ventilated areas. Four percent responded that there should be no restrictions in restaurant smoking. This sample shows more Americans are against smoking in restaurants. In 1987, when the Gallup first conducted this survey, only 17 percent of those surveyed believed that smoking should be banned from restaurants.

    Health Side Effects

    • Restaurant workers who are exposed to secondhand smoke are more likely to develop lung cancer than those who do not work in a smoking environment, according to research conducted by the Multnomah County Health Department and Oregon Department of Human Services. Restaurant workers exposed to smoke were found to accumulate a high level of NNK, or nicotine-derived nitrosamine ketone, which is a carcinogen found in cigarette smoke. Secondhand smoke also contains 50 types of carcinogens that contribute to heart disease, lung cancer and other types of cancer.

    Business Effects

    • Some restaurant and bar owners fear that banning smoking in restaurants can cause their business to drop. However, this may not be the case. According to the Business Journal of Milwaukee, business revenue increased by more than $105 million in Washington state two years after the state government instituted smoking bans in restaurants and bars.

    State Bans

    • Only 14 states in the United States have not enacted any smoking ban laws, according to 2011 data from the Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights foundation. These states are Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Tennessee, West Virginia and Wyoming.

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