Smokefree Workplace Rules and Laws

Data Up to Date as of:

On This Page:

In 2018 to 2019, 80.4% of adults aged 18 years and older reported a smokefree worksite rule.

Summary graph for Smokefree Workplace Rules and Laws, Click to see detailed view of graph

See Graph Details

Background

As of October 1, 2022, thirty-six states, along with the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, have laws in effect that require one or more of the following venues to be 100% smokefree: non-hospitality workplaces, restaurants, bars and state-run gambling establishments. A total of 1,159 cities and counties have a 100% smokefree provision in effect in one or more of the following venues: non-hospitality workplaces, restaurants, and bars. In 2021, the Navajo Nation become the first tribe to pass legislation to create a commercial tobacco free environment for all public places (including the four Navajo casinos, pow wows, annual festivals, and sports and rodeos). This will protect nonsmokers living within and visitors to the Navajo Nation.

Secondhand smoke (SHS) is a mixture of the side stream smoke released by a smoldering cigarette, pipe, hookah/waterpipe, or cigar, and the mainstream smoke exhaled by a smoker. SHS is a complex mixture containing thousands of chemicals, including formaldehyde, cyanide, carbon monoxide, ammonia, and nicotine. More than 250 of the chemicals in SHS are known to be harmful, and at least 69 are known to cause cancer.

Conclusive scientific evidence documents that SHS causes premature death and disease in children and adults who do not smoke. Among adults, exposure to SHS has immediate adverse effects on the cardiovascular system, and long-term exposure to SHS causes coronary heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer. Children exposed to SHS are at increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome, acute respiratory infections, middle ear disease, more severe asthma, respiratory symptoms, and slowed lung growth. 

E-cigarettes (also known as vapes or Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems) are battery-powered devices that convert a liquid (“e-liquid”) into an aerosol. E-liquids typically contains nicotine, flavorings, vegetable glycerin, propylene glycol and other chemicals. In addition to nicotine, e-cigarette aerosol may contain heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, and fine and ultrafine particles that can be inhaled deeply into the lungs by both users and by-standers. States and localities are increasingly incorporating prohibition of e-cigarette use into comprehensive smokefree air laws. As of January 1, 2023, 26 states, the territories of Guam, and Puerto Rico, and 742 municipalities have prohibited the use of e-cigarettes in 100% smokefree locations.

Secondhand smoke (SHS) is a mixture of the side stream smoke released by a smoldering cigarette, pipe, hookah/waterpipe, or cigar, and the mainstream smoke exhaled by a smoker. SHS is a complex mixture containing thousands of chemicals, including formaldehyde, cyanide, carbon monoxide, ammonia, and nicotine. More than 250 of the chemicals in SHS are known to be harmful, and at least 69 are known to cause cancer.

Conclusive scientific evidence documents that SHS causes premature death and disease in children and adults who do not smoke. Among adults, exposure to SHS has immediate adverse effects on the cardiovascular system, and long-term exposure to SHS causes coronary heart disease and lung cancer. Children exposed to SHS are at increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome, acute respiratory infections, middle ear disease, more severe asthma, respiratory symptoms, and slowed lung growth. 

There is no risk-free level of exposure to SHS, and only eliminating smoking in indoor spaces fully protects people who don’t smoke from exposure to SHS. Not everyone in the U.S. is equally protected by 100% smokefree laws; currently, about 37% of the U.S. population is not protected at the state or community level. Smokefree laws not only protect people from SHS exposure, but also reduce youth initiation and encourage people who smoke to quit.

Measure

The percentage of indoor workers reporting a smokefree worksite rule (i.e., no smoking allowed in any indoor public/common or work areas).

The percentage of the population protected by local and state smokefree indoor air laws covering workplaces, restaurants, and bars. This measure draws on data collected and analyzed by the Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation. Use of this information allows the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to include both local and state laws in its assessments.

Healthy People 2030 Target

  • Increase the proportion of worksites that are covered by indoor worksite policies that prohibit smoking (Developmental Objective)
  • Increase the number of states, territories, and DC that prohibit smoking in worksites, restaurants, and bars to 58.

While the Healthy People 2030 (HP2030) developmental objective focuses on the proportion of worksites covered by indoor worksite policies that prohibit smoking, data presented in the Cancer Trends Progress Report focus on the proportion of indoor workers reporting that smoking is prohibited in all indoor public/common or work areas. Therefore, the data presented in this report cannot be directly compared to the HP2030 developmental objective.

Healthy People 2030 is a set of goals set forth by the Department of Health and Human Services.

Data Source

National Cancer Institute.  Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey for “work place smokefree policies” measures.

Americans for Nonsmokers Right Foundation. “Percentage of the population covered by local and/or state 100% smokefree air laws”.

Trends and Most Recent EstimatesHelp with navigating the graphs and data tables

Smokefree Workplace Rules

By Sex
Percentage of workers aged 18 years and older reporting a smokefree worksite rule by sex, 1992-2019
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2018 to 2019)
Percent of workers 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for Percentage of workers aged 18 years and older reporting a smokefree worksite rule by sex, 1992-2019 Both SexesClick to see the detailed trend graph for Both Sexes 80.4 79.9 - 80.8
MaleClick to see the detailed trend graph for Male 77.9 77.2 - 78.6
FemaleClick to see the detailed trend graph for Female 82.7 82.1 - 83.2
By Race/Ethnicity
Percentage of workers aged 18 years and older reporting a smokefree worksite rule by race/ethnicity, 1992-2019
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2018 to 2019)
Percent of workers 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for Percentage of workers aged 18 years and older reporting a smokefree worksite rule by race/ethnicity, 1992-2019 All RacesClick to see the detailed trend graph for All Races 80.4 79.9 - 80.8
Non-Hispanic WhiteClick to see the detailed trend graph for Non-Hispanic White 82.4 81.9 - 82.9
Non-Hispanic BlackClick to see the detailed trend graph for Non-Hispanic Black 79.0 77.6 - 80.5
HispanicClick to see the detailed trend graph for Hispanic 73.8 72.2 - 75.4
By Age
Percentage of workers aged 18 years and older reporting a smokefree worksite rule by age, 1992-2019
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2018 to 2019)
Percent of workers 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for Percentage of workers aged 18 years and older reporting a smokefree worksite rule by age, 1992-2019 Ages 18-24Click to see the detailed trend graph for Ages 18-24 76.2 74.5 - 77.8
Ages 25+Click to see the detailed trend graph for Ages 25+ 81.0 80.6 - 81.5
By Sex and Age
Percentage of workers aged 18 years and older reporting a smokefree worksite rule by sex and age, 1992-2019
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2018 to 2019)
Percent of workers 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for Percentage of workers aged 18 years and older reporting a smokefree worksite rule by sex and age, 1992-2019 Males, ages 18-24Click to see the detailed trend graph for Males, ages 18-24 73.7 71.1 - 76.2
Males, ages 25+Click to see the detailed trend graph for Males, ages 25+ 78.6 77.9 - 79.3
Females, ages 18-24Click to see the detailed trend graph for Females, ages 18-24 78.4 76.1 - 80.6
Females, ages 25+Click to see the detailed trend graph for Females, ages 25+ 83.3 82.7 - 83.9
By Poverty Income Level
Percentage of workers aged 18 years and older reporting a smokefree worksite rule by poverty income level, 1998-2019
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2018 to 2019)
Percent of workers 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for Percentage of workers aged 18 years and older reporting a smokefree worksite rule by poverty income level, 1998-2019 < 200% of the federal poverty levelClick to see the detailed trend graph for < 200% of the federal poverty level 74.9 73.7 - 76.1
>= 200% of the federal poverty levelClick to see the detailed trend graph for >= 200% of the federal poverty level 81.4 80.9 - 81.9
By Education Level
Percentage of workers aged 25 years and older reporting a smokefree worksite rule by highest level of education obtained, 1992-2019
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2018 to 2019)
Percent of workers 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for Percentage of workers aged 25 years and older reporting a smokefree worksite rule by highest level of education obtained, 1992-2019 Less than High SchoolClick to see the detailed trend graph for Less than High School 67.9 64.9 - 70.7
High SchoolClick to see the detailed trend graph for High School 77.2 76.1 - 78.2
Greater than High SchoolClick to see the detailed trend graph for Greater than High School 82.9 82.4 - 83.4

Indoor Air Laws

Percentage of population protected by local and state 100% smokefree indoor air laws, 1998-2022
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2022)
Percent of population 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for Percentage of population protected by local and state 100% smokefree indoor air laws, 1998-2022 WorkplacesClick to see the detailed trend graph for Workplaces 77.4 Not available
RestaurantsClick to see the detailed trend graph for Restaurants 78.1 Not available
BarsClick to see the detailed trend graph for Bars 66.7 Not available

Additional Information on Smokefree Workplace Rules and Laws

Year Range

1992-2019

Recent Summary Trend Year Range

2014-2019

Summary Tables

Secondhand Smoke

Recent Summary Trend

Non-Significant Change

Desired Direction

Rising