Many states have passed statewide bans on smoking in enclosed public places, including restaurants and bars. Other states have enacted statewide smoking bans that include exceptions for certain businesses and workplaces—such as cigar bars, tobacco shops, and private clubs.

Some cities and towns have enacted ordinances (laws) that restrict smoking in restaurants and bars—and some cities and towns extend public smoking bans outdoors to sidewalks, apartment complexes, and other public spaces where nonsmokers may congregate, for example.

Violations of these smoking bans may be prosecuted as misdemeanor criminal offenses and include hundreds of dollars of potential fines.

In Georgia, the statewide smoking ban is known as the Georgia Smokefree Air Act of 2005. This law prohibits smoking in most enclosed public places, including restaurants and bars that admit persons under the age of 18. However, there are exceptions to the ban, such as for private clubs, bars that do not allow entry to those under 18, and designated smoking rooms in hotels. Additionally, tobacco shops and cigar bars that meet certain criteria are exempt from the ban. Local governments in Georgia have the authority to adopt more stringent smoking regulations, and some cities and towns have indeed enacted ordinances that further restrict smoking in public areas, including outdoor spaces. Violations of the state smoking ban and local ordinances can result in fines and are typically treated as misdemeanor offenses.