This map shows states with the most restrictions against smoking in public, combined with the most restrictions on the sale of alcohol.
It is based on the following criteria:
Criteria
PUBLIC SMOKING RESTRICTIONS CRITERIA
– Restaurant Ban
– Bar Ban
– Workplace Ban
– Adult-Only Ban
– Public Spaces Ban
SALE OF ALCOHOL RESTRICTIONS CRITERIA
– Selling beer in groceries
or only state-run stores
– Selling wine in groceries
or only state-run stores
– Selling spirits in groceries
or only state-run stores
Analysis
Utah’s strict laws on smoking and alcohol stem from a blend of factors including the dominant influence of the Mormon Church advocating health, public health concerns regarding smoking and alcohol, the protection of youth from harmful substances, and conservative social values shaping policy. These regulations reflect a concerted effort to align with religious, cultural, and health priorities while maintaining a certain moral standard within the community.
On the other hands, Missouri’s relatively lax approach to smoking and alcohol regulation can be attributed to a combination of cultural, historical, and economic factors. With a tradition of tobacco farming and a culture of alcohol production and consumption, coupled with a philosophy favoring limited government intervention and individual freedoms, the state tends to enact fewer restrictions on these activities.