NYC smoking ban takes effect

Nation's Restaurant News, April 17, 1995

NEW YORK -- One of the nation's toughest anti-smoking laws took effect here April 10 forcing most operator make costly physical renovations or abide by the intent of the law, which seeks to eliminate smoking in most enclosed public places.

Virtually every restaurant, place of employment, museum and sporting venue -- even Yankee Stadium -- come under the city's new Smoke Free Air Act.

But while the law applies to most restaurants, operations with fewer than 35 seats are exempt. Also exempt are private clubs, bars with food sales less than 40 percent of gross and banquet rooms for private parties controlled by the host and not the restaurant.

Smoking will be permitted in bar areas, but several stipulations are attached to bar smoking. Smoking will not be permitted at bars if guests must wait there for a table. In addition, if the bar is less than 6 feet from the main dining room, smoking will be allowed only if the owner installs a solid, floor-to-ceiling partition.