HLNYC Home > Wellness > Addiction > Smoking

The NYC Restaurant and Bar Smoking Ban: One Year Later

On March 30, 2004, New York City celebrated the first year anniversary of its smoke-free workplace legislation. A report issued by four city agencies (finance, health, small business, and economic development) has shown that, by multiple measures, the City’s smoke-free legislation has been good for the city and its residents:

1. Employment in NYC’s restaurant/bar industry is the highest in over a decade.
2. Tax receipts of restaurants and bars are up 8.7%.
3. Bar permits and licenses increased by more than 200%.
4. Air quality in restaurants and bars is significantly better.   Levels of cotinine, a metabolite of nicotine, measured in restaurants and bars are down by 85%.
5. Compliance is high. Inspection of 22,000 establishments revealed that 97% inspected posted NO SMOKING signs, removed ashtrays, and had no one smoking.

These events have led Dr. Thomas Frieden, NYC’s Health Commissioner, to declare the city a healthier place to live. “This confirms what we have thought all along,” said Dr. Lirio Covey of the New York State Psychiatric Institute. “The ban may have actually welcomed back non-smoking patrons who had avoided some restaurants and bars.” Dr. Covey, who continues to see a steady flow of smokers seeking to quit, hopes this news will quell some of people’s earlier fears and encourage would-be quitters to put down that cigarette once and for all.

The number of deaths from smoking speaks for itself: an estimated 440,000 Americans die each year.  Dr. Covey, Director of the Smoking Cessation Program at the New York State Psychiatric Institute, is currently recruiting participants for a federally-funded study on smoking cessation and relapse prevention.  Volunteers to the research receive a medical evaluation, Zyban, nicotine patch, and individual counseling during an initial 8-week treatment program.  Successful quitters then enter a 16-week study where they receive Zyban, nicotine gum, or placebo. The investigators will examine the study data to determine if the high rate of smoking relapse will be lower among participants who continue to use the smoking cessation medications, i.e. Zyban or nicotine gum, compared with those who receive the placebo.  Men and women of all ethnic groups are invited to enter the study.