Living In USA

Smoking is now prohibited in restaurants in much of the country. No doubt the days of a cigarette between courses or at the end of a meal will someday be gone forever, which you may find refreshing or stifling depending on your feelings about smoking. The original rationale for these bans was health concerns about second-hand smoke, which is supported by some research studies but refuted by others. In reality, public support for these restrictions is high because fewer people smoke, and nonsmokers have become accustomed to (some would say self-righteous about) their right to cleaner air.

In the 1970s, restaurants were required to provide nonsmoking sections, which were typically small rooms or even just a few tables. Gradually, the non-smoking areas became larger and the smokers were banished to smaller tables. In many restaurants, even in locales without legal bans, smoking is not permitted at all on the premises.