" All this means that the ban is not effective nor applied as it should be. And a major effect it generated was controversy and a never ending dispute. In order to retain their customers, local facilities have changed their status. For instance, a local diner and family place, posed on their door the "21 and over" sign as to be considered an age-restricted venue and still keep its smoking customers. And this procedure is more and more common, especially after bar sales dropped at a rate of 20 up to 30% per week when patrons did not allow smoking. They explained that once they turned to "21 and over," they sales went back up.

Other bars kept the smoking restriction and their customers went into the street to smoke. The success of this measure is given by the fact that most smokers are anyway uncomfortable to be smoking around non-smokers; therefore no major complaints were registered. But the fact that some of the facilities remained free from smoking only meant that the revenues of the "21 and over" bars allowing smoking have increased.

Aside from the health and economic effects, the ban has also generated political reactions, presented in the media. As such, several members of the society have stated that the right to smoke is a given of all free individuals and the government should have no power to limit it. The media has also played a crucial role in informing the population of the ban but also about the rationale behind it and its implications.

All in all, the effects of the Tennessee smoking ban vary. Whereas some smokers have quitted and some...

To be able to properly reduce smoking in public areas, the Tennessee authorities must develop a better legislature that does not allow bar owners to decide whether to allow smoking or not. More time has to pass and further research has to be conducted in order to get a clear conclusion, but the positive effects of the ban should be first seen in a reduced number of heart diseases.