"These places — only adults go in. We are all adults, so why can't we make a decision for ourselves? I think Utah just said we are adults and let us make the decision."

The proposed statewide ban on smoking in private clubs and taverns comes in the midst of a Salt Lake Valley Board of Health consideration to adopt regulations that would prohibit smoking in certain outdoor venues, such as Hogle Zoo, public playgrounds and baseball diamonds.

New York and California have statewide smoking bans that prohibit lighting up in bars and clubs, while Florida is smoke-free except in those bars that do not serve prepared food.

Across the country, states have adopted a variety of indoor smoking bans, and since 2003 the trend is catching on to impose more restrictions on smokers, including outdoor prohibitions.

Arizona voters may be asked next year in a ballot initiative to invoke a statewide ban prohibiting smoking in public places, and closer to home Salt Lake Mayor Rocky Anderson wants to ban smoking at the Salt Lake City International Airport, where puffers use ventilated rooms.

Utah was the first state in the nation to go "smoke free" in 1995, when its indoor clean air act took effect.

It prohibits smoking in restaurants, stores, bowling alleys and businesses, but exempts private clubs, taverns, guest rooms at hotels and motels and fraternal and religious organizations.

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E-mail: amyjoi@desnews.com