The Campaign To Enact New York Cityʼs Smoke-Free Air Act

Abstract

On January 10, 1995, New York City's mayor signed into law a bill restricting smoking in most public facilities including restaurant dining areas, workplaces, and sports stadiums. This law was the subject of extensive public debate and was considered quite controversial at the time it was enacted. Passage of the smoking law (known as the New York City Smoke-Free Air Act) helped pave the way for other localities in New York to enact similar restrictions on smoking in public facilities. This article documents the process of enacting the New York City Smoke-Free Air Act.