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 Rhode Island, smoking is regulated by the Public Health and Workplace Safety Act, which prohibits smoking in nearly all enclosed public places, including restaurants and bars. The law also extends to a certain distance from public and private building entrances to ensure that smoke does not enter the buildings. There are exceptions to the statewide ban, such as cigar bars and tobacco shops, which must meet specific criteria to allow smoking. Additionally, private clubs with no employees can allow smoking. Local municipalities in Rhode Island may have their own ordinances that further restrict smoking in public areas, such as parks, beaches, and outdoor spaces near public buildings. Violations of the smoking ban in Rhode Island can result in fines and are treated as public health violations rather than criminal offenses.