In the U.S. the no-smoking indoors practice is actually considered a local issue -- so local ordinances apply. (At least it used to be this way. It may have changed since I last kept track of this.)

But now where I live (New Mexico) there's no smoking in public buildings, or communal offices or hospitals (of course!!) or restaurants. (Bars and bowling alleys are exempt for some reason. The casinos may be also. I never go there so I'm not sure.)

Years ago, you'd hear smokers fuss about having to go outside (sometimes in the rain) in order to smoke, but never did they just blow off (no pun intended) the whole idea. In the very beginning, restaurant owners, etc., whined that the law would cause them to lose business. But in reality, they discovered their business actually increased -- as non-smokers (like my husband and me) started eating out again -- once we could be sure our meal wouldn't be ruined by some smoker sitting beside us.

Non-smoking is basically standard practice here -- which makes it a shock when we go to another state. (Especially Hawaii ... where it seems like 80% of the people smoke!!) Put that down as another reason we don't travel much.

I sympathize with you totally. And I wish you luck in getting the problem worked out.