The Long Road to a Ban

1995: The city council considers a proposal to gradually limit smoking areas in restaurants to 15 percent of tables. Under heavy pressure from Cambridge’s business community, the council adds amendments that weaken the proposal. The measure passes, but only restricts smoking to 50 percent of restaurant tables. Smoking ban advocates call the new restrictions “meaningless.”

1996: Brookline, Mass. becomes one of the first towns in the country to ban smoking in restaurants.

July 2002: A proposal to ban smoking entirely in Cambridge bars and restaurants is introduced at a city council meeting.

May 2003: Following the lead of other major cities across the country, Boston bans smoking in its bars and restaurants.

June 2003: The city council approves the smoking ban in an unexpectedly lopsided 7-2 vote.

Oct. 1, 2003: Cambridge bars and restaurants go smoke-free.