Smoking in New York

In New York smoking is not as commonplace as it is in parts of Australia, at least not in public areas. You won’t be surprised to hear that you can’t smoke in bars and clubs, but you’re also not permitted to light your cigarette in the park.  If you’re very attached to your daily dose of nicotine, there are a few places you can freely light up.

Non-smoking Areas in New York

Ever since 1987, New York has imposed public smoking regulations. The laws are to protect the health and well-being of everyone in the city. New York plans to ban tobacco products from the state entirely and smoking is prohibited in most (public) areas.

There are non-smoking areas like in Australia, such as:

• Offices
• Public transportation
• Bars
• Restaurants
• Museums

But in New York, the smoking ban is even more strict, and also applies to:

• All parks
• Swimming pools
• Public squares
• Beaches
• Promenades

Smoking in undesignated areas could result in a fine.

Where are you allowed to Smoke in New York

I bet you’re now wondering: can I legally smoke in New York at all? And if so, where? The answer to both of your questions is yes: you’re allowed to smoke within private homes and in private cars.

Some bars and clubs also offer an enclosed smoking area, whereas some hotels offer rooms where smoking is allowed. Furthermore, you can find special ‘cigar lounges’, often with a corresponding atmosphere and dress code. Please note that most of these are meant exclusively for smoking cigars, although some of them do permit smoking cigarettes. New York plans to curb smoking and tobacco usage, passing stricter laws each year.

About Eric »

Hey there, I'm Eric!

I'm a true New York fan with over 20 years of experience visiting and living in NYC. Here on my website, I share all my tips and valuable information to help you make the most of your trip. I personally test and regularly re-test everything on my site to ensure that what I write is useful, honest, and always up-to-date.

If you have any questions, are unsure about something, or want me to check your itinerary, please email me at eric@newyork.com.au. You can also follow me on Facebook or Instagram to get daily updates from New York.

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Eric’s Tip: “Not a lot of New Yorkers smoke and those who do, try to hide it as much as possible. I recommend that you really abide by the rules. Even when you don’t see any police around, a New Yorker will criticise your smoking behaviour.”

Price of Cigarettes

First, it’s good to know that the price of cigarettes in New York is among the highest in the United States. In New York, you can buy cigarettes at convenience stores, gas stations and tobacco shops, but by law, you’ll pay a minimum $13 for a pack of cigarettes. The average price in New York City is around $18.

The sale of tobacco products is banned in pharmacies and in supermarkets with a pharmacy section. If you still want to smoke some cigarettes, it will be cheaper to buy them at the airport before heading to New York. You’ll be allowed to carry up to 200 cigarettes with you, coming from Australia.

What’s the smoking age in New York?

In New York, you’re allowed to buy tobacco or cigarettes from the age of 21. This is different from Australia where the minimum age is 18 to buy tobacco or cigarettes. Even if you’re younger but look older, you can’t escape this rule. They not only ask for your ID, they even scan it before they’ll hand you your cigarettes.

E-Cigarettes in New York

Electronic cigarettes and vaping fall under the same strict regulations as regular cigarettes and smoking. E-cigarettes have a 20% supplemental tax in New York. They are also not widely available as all vendors need to be a registered dealer before they can sell vapour products. Heavy fines are in place for unregistered selling. New York plans on banning the sale of e-cigarettes altogether.