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Smoking in public places has been prohibited in Mexico

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Travel Articles >> Locations >> Latin America >> Mexico

Smoking in most of the public places in Mexico has been prohibited by the authorities. Two corresponding laws have been published at the sessions of the national Senate and the parliament of the Mexican capital.

According to the official information, 150 people die every day in this Latin American country because of the diseases linked with smoking. The restrictions for the young people, suffering from this harmful habit have been introduced here already several years ago. But every year these have become more and more severe - especially in the multi-million Mexico that remains one of the most polluted cities of the world.

In January of this year, the capital deputies have confirmed the corrections for several laws, which will make restaurants, cafes, bars, and discotheques to dedicate 70% of their area to the non-smoking public. But now the Legislative Assembly of the Federal district has decided to clear these establishments completely from the tobacco smoke. Only those of them, equipped with open terraces or patios - can offer such a possibility for the smokers without risk to get fined or even arrested.

The approved by the Mexico authorities law in February will come in force in March and after that - a person caught in Mexico with a cigarette in a public place will have to pay a fine - 500 - 1500 peso (46 - 139 dollars). And if the issue will reappear - the smoker-recidivist will be arrested for 36 hours.

But the punishments are planned not only for the tobacco lovers, but also for the owners of the public places that allow to break the law. The fines for these can reach 136 thousands peso (12,5 thousands dollars). In case of serious law violations - the restaurant or discotheque will be simply closed.

The only exclusion has been made by the legislators for the hotels. But also in these - the amount of the rooms for the smokers should not exceed 25% from the whole space offered for the clients.

The law, approved by the Senate is significantly weaker and allows special smoking zones in provincial bars and cafes. It is targeted mainly to protect the underage Mexicans from the harmful habit and introduces more severe rules for the cigarette producers, seriously shortening the volumes of the advertisement.

According to some of the senators, the tobacco industry will not suffer really serious losses, because those people that are already smoking - will mostly continue doing it. There are many examples in those countries where the analogical laws have been approved.

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Article Submitted On: March 10, 2008