End fires – Mexico bans smoking in public

Mexico almost completely stops smoking in two ways: on the one hand, smoking as such is banned, and on the other hand, the associated advertising. Since last Sunday, the smoking ban on public land has been considerably relaxed, writes De Spiegel.

Parks, sports facilities, beaches, amusement parks, markets, courts and prisons are now smoke-free zones, as proclaimed by the President of Mexico, Andrés Manuel Lopez Obrador. In addition, “all forms of advertising, sales promotion and sponsorship” of tobacco products are now prohibited.

About 15 million (out of a total of 126 million) smoking Mexicans are affected by the presidential decisions. According to the RIVM, five percent of them, or 750,000, are between 12 and 17 years old. According to Spiegel, if you violate the new regulations, there is a risk of fines of 46 to 157 euros.

Criticism of the decision comes from the employers’ organization Coarmex. He fears that cigarette sellers will suffer economic damage. In the capital Mexico City, about 85,000 supermarkets account for a quarter of their turnover with tobacco products. In addition, the self-determination of adult consumers is violated by the decree of Lopez Obrador. (first)