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One of the world’s strictest no-smoking rules has gone into effect and in Mexico of all places. A new law completely bans smoking in all public places including Puerto Vallarta beaches, parks, sidewalks, and “anywhere that children gather.”
Previously the no-smoking law had applied to bars, workplaces and restaurants. The ban went into effect on of January 15, 2023.
Those who fail to comply with this regulation may be admonished or warned; pay a fine of between one thousand and 10,000 times the minimum wage, or be arrested for up to 36 hours. Establishments may be partially or completely and temporarily closed or permanently, depending on the severity of the fault.
The new law will force smokers to only smoke in their homes and private residences or some smoking areas can be created (see below). Business leaders have expressed concern that the rule may be difficult to enforce and increase bribes amounts the police force, and that since the sale of cigarettes is legal, it should be legal to smoke them.
These are the places where you can’t smoke:
- Event rooms.
- Rooms and areas with access to the general public or common use of hotels and other lodging sites.
- Patios, terraces and balconies from anywhere with public access.
- Amusement parks.
- Playgrounds or places where children and adolescents stay or congregate.
- Urban development parks.
- Sports.
- Beaches.
- Entertainment and entertainment centers.
- Courts, stadiums and arenas.
- Shopping spaces.
- Markets.
- Hotels.
- Hospitals, health centers and medical clinics.
- Places of religious worship.
- Places of consumption or service of food or drinks.
- Transport stops.
- Public transport.
- Schools
- Workplaces.
- Government offices.
- Public areas of prisons and detention centers.
Advertising for cigarettes is also now banned in Mexico, including at convenience stores and there will be no smoking allowed at public gatherings such as concerts and special events. Hotels can no longer offer smoking rooms.
In May, 2022, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador banned the sale of e-cigarettes. Imports of vapes had been banned since October 2021. E-cigarettes and vapes will be subject to new rules indoors as well, though those details are not clear.
Smoking areas can be established but under the following regulations:
- Be physically separated and incommunicado from spaces 100% smoke-free and not be a must for people.
- They must be located 10 meters away from the entrances, accesses and exits of the buildings and the air intake ducts.
- Smoking areas should not occupy more than 10% of the total area of the establishment.
- They will have the signage that prohibits the entry of minors and graphic health warnings about the health effects and damage of exposure to tobacco smoke.
