Smokeasy

Smokeasy (also spelled smoke-easy or smokeeasy) is a term which came briefly into use in the wake of government-imposed

High levels of compliance with smoke-free laws have been reported in most jurisdictions including New York,[5] Ireland,^[6] Italy^[7] and Scotland.^[8] Poor compliance was reported in Kolkata.^[9]

Tobacco companies and smokeasies

Tobacco companies have used a variety of tactics to encourage the sale and consumption of cigarettes in the presence of smoking bans, and the term smokeasy has commonly been used to describe events and establishments of this kind.

Within one month of the passage of New York City's smoking ban in 2003, smokeasies were quickly predicted.^[12] Shortly thereafter, some bartenders began to hear word of smokeasies and theorized that some former regulars who were smokers had switched to the smokeasies.^[13] By 2013, acceptance of the law was general, with the Onondaga County Health Department saying that they were receiving and investigating very few complaints.^[14]

Hawaii

In Hawaii, some establishments announced their intention to defy the statewide smoking ban, one of America's strictest, which went into effect on November 16, 2006.^[15][16][17] However, bans have been successively tightened over time.

The Netherlands

With the passing of a 2008 smoking ban, many Dutch cafes had become smokeasies despite facing fines up to 18,500

After two years of continued opposition by bar and cafe owners, in the fall of 2010 the Dutch government repealed the ban for smaller bars and cafes which had complained loudly about loss of business.[19] The bans were reinstated and extended in 2018.^[20]

See also

• List of smoking bans in the United States
• Tobacco control

References