Comprehensive Smoke-Free Laws—50 Largest U.S. Cities, 2000 and 2012

November 16, 2012 / Vol. 61 / No. 45

The number of the 50 most populous U.S. cities with comprehensive smoke-free laws (including private workplaces, restaurants and bars) increased from one (San Jose, California) in 2000 to 30 as of October 5, 2012.
Sixteen of the 50 largest cities were covered by a comprehensive local smoke-free law in 2012.
An additional 14 of the 50 largest cities were covered by a comprehensive state smoke-free law in 2012.

Of the 50 largest U.S. Cities, 20 are not covered by either local or state comprehensive smoke-free laws in 2012.
These 20 cities without comprehensive smoke-free laws are located in 10 states.
Ten of the 20 cities without comprehensive smoke-free laws are located in the southern United States (including Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia).
Ten of the 20 cities without comprehensive smoke-free laws are located in states that prohibit local smoking restrictions that are stronger than or differ from state law (including Florida, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Virginia).

Data on the 50 largest cities were obtained from the 2000 and 2010 U.S. Censuses.
The data are based on the population within city limits.
Between 2000 and 2010, three cities (New Orleans, Louisiana; Honolulu, Hawaii; and St. Louis, Missouri) dropped out of the list of the 50 largest cities.
Between 2000 and 2010, three other cities (Louisville, Kentucky; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Arlington, Texas) entered this list.

Data on local smoking restrictions were obtained from the American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation U.S. Tobacco Control Laws database.
Data on state smoking restrictions were obtained from the CDC State Tobacco Activities Tracking and Evaluation (STATE) System database.