Information on Antismoking

Before people were fully aware of the health dangers involved with smoking, antismoking laws and smoking bans were not around. These days, due to the dangers associated with secondhand smoke, more and more environments have become smoke free.

Smoking Bans

• It is illegal to smoke in restaurants in California.

  California made history when it passed a law banning smoking in both bars and restaurants. The smoking ban in restaurants was first passed in California in 1994. A recent bill in California would have banned smoking in 278 state beaches and parks, however, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed it.

Apartments

• Landlords have the right to ban smoking inside their apartment buildings.

  Landlords have the legal right to create antismoking rules within their buildings. Tenants may be able to smoke inside their actual rental unit, but not in common areas such as stairwells and hallways. Landlords in some New York apartments can evict those who violate antismoking policies.

Warnings

• Prior to 1965, cigarette packages did not have warning labels.

  Prior to 1965, cigarette packages were not required by law to have a label warning people about the dangers of the product. Congress passed the Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act in 1965, based on a report by the Surgeon General of the United States, requiring all cigarette companies to supply warning labels on cigarette packages alerting consumers to the risks involved.