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

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

MMWR Introduction

The report compared status of comprehensive local or state smoke-free laws in the 50 U.S. cities with the largest populations as of December 31, 2000 and October 5, 2012. The analysis found that the number of these cities covered by local and/or state comprehensive smoke-free laws increased from one city in 2000 to 30 cities as of October 5, 2012. Data on the 50 largest cities were obtained from the 2000 and 2010 U.S. Censuses.

CDC considers a smoke-free law to be comprehensive if it prohibits smoking in all indoor areas of private workplaces, restaurants, and bars. A total of 20 of the 50 most populous U.S. cities were not covered by a comprehensive smoke-free law at either the local or state level as of October 5, 2012. These 20 cities are located in 10 states. Ten of these 20 cities are located in the south, and 10 of these cities are located in states that prohibit local smoking restrictions that are stronger than or differ from state law.