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 News Around the Republic of Mexico | November 2007 
Mexico Edges Toward Ban on Smoking in Public
 Reuters
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| | About half the adults among Mexico's 104 million people are smokers or ex-smokers, according to the National Statistics Institute. |
Mexico City - A Mexican congressional committee approved on Wednesday a ban on smoking in public places, a first step toward prohibiting the lighting up of cigarettes and cigars in a country of heavy smokers.
El Universal newspaper reported on its online edition that the health committee of the lower house of Congress approved the ban, which will also slap more controls on tobacco sales and cigarette makers.
Jose Antonio Munoz Serrano, the secretary of the health committee, said its members will meet again on Thursday to make minor tweaks to the nonsmoking bill which will then go to the full house for approval, El Universal said.
It was not immediately clear what type of public places would be included in the ban.
Mexican bars, cantinas and restaurants allow smoking in designated areas. But the smoking rules are often disregarded.
Smoking is prohibited in public offices, but government officials often ignore the law. Only recently have private office buildings started to ban smoking.
About half the adults among Mexico's 104 million people are smokers or ex-smokers, according to the National Statistics Institute.
Smoking is widespread partly because a pack of 20 cigarettes in Mexico is still relatively cheap despite heavy taxes, selling for around 22 pesos ($2).
Reporting by Chris Aspin, editing by Mohammad Zargham |
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