On This Day

NYC bans smoking in all restaurants that seat 35 or more

Smoking bans are public policies, including criminal laws and occupational safety and health regulations, that prohibit tobacco smoking in certain spaces.

Smoking bans are public policies, including criminal laws and occupational safety and health regulations, that prohibit tobacco smoking in certain spaces. The United States Congress has not attempted to enact any type of nationwide federal smoking ban in workplaces and public places. Therefore, such policies are entirely a product of state and local laws.

Utah was the first state to enact a comprehensive statewide ban on smoking in public places, with the state Legislature passing the Utah Indoor Clean Air Act in 1994. Similarly, California enacted a statewide smoking ban for restaurants that went into effect in 1995. Throughout the early to mid-2000s, especially between 2004 and 2007, an increasing number of states enacted a statewide smoking ban of some kind.

Historical Significance

Smoking bans are public policies, including criminal laws and occupational safety and health regulations, that prohibit tobacco smoking in certain spaces.

Events Before

  1. Aleksandr Popov swims a world record 100m freestyle of 47.83 seconds

    Aleksandr Popov swims a world record 100m freestyle of 47.83 seconds

  2. Kathleen Kinmont files for divorce from Lorenzo Lamas

    Lorenzo Fernando Lamas is an American actor and producer. He is widely known for his role of Lance Cumson, the irresponsible grandson of Angela Channing—played by Jane Wyman—in the soap opera Falcon...

  3. Kapil Dev takes 2/41 as India beats Sri Lanka by an innings and 95 runs in 2nd Cricket Test in Bengaluru; equals Sir Ric

    Kapil Dev takes 2/41 as India beats Sri Lanka by an innings and 95 runs in 2nd Cricket Test in Bengaluru; equals Sir Richard Hadlee's world record of 431 Test wickets

  4. The Church of England ordains its first 32 female priests at the Bristol Cathedral in Bristol, England [1]

    On 12 March 1994, 32 women were ordained as Church of England priests for the first time in history.

  5. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. divorces Emily Black

    Robert Francis Kennedy Jr., also known by his initials RFK Jr., is an American politician, environmental lawyer, author, conspiracy theorist, and anti-vaccine activist serving as the 26th United...

Events After

  1. After 27 years, Betty Rubble debuts as a Flintstone chewable vitamin character

    After 27 years, Betty Rubble debuts as a Flintstone chewable vitamin character

  2. Princess of Rock Lisa Marie Presley files for divorce from King of Pop Michael Jackson in NYC

    Princess of Rock Lisa Marie Presley files for divorce from King of Pop Michael Jackson in NYC

  3. "ER" TV actress Yvette Freeman (39) weds musical director Lawny Hartley (49) in Dunleith, Delaware

    "ER" TV actress Yvette Freeman (39) weds musical director Lawny Hartley (49) in Dunleith, Delaware

  4. The 6,138th performance of "Cats" is held in London, surpassing the record of Broadway's longest-running musical, "A Cho

    The 6,138th performance of "Cats" is held in London, surpassing the record of Broadway's longest-running musical, "A Chorus Line"

  5. Death Row/Interscope Records releases rapper Tupac Shakur's fourth studio album "All Eyez on Me," his final release duri

    Death Row/Interscope Records releases rapper Tupac Shakur's fourth studio album "All Eyez on Me," his final release during his lifetime

More from the 1990s

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on April 10, 1995?
Smoking bans are public policies, including criminal laws and occupational safety and health regulations, that prohibit tobacco smoking in certain spaces. The United States Congress has not attempted to enact any type of nationwide federal smoking ban in workplaces and public places. Therefore, such policies are entirely a product of state and local laws.
Why is NYC bans smoking in all restaurants that seat 35 or more significant?
Smoking bans are public policies, including criminal laws and occupational safety and health regulations, that prohibit tobacco smoking in certain spaces.

Explore More