Smoking forbidden – the strictest smoking laws in the world: Bhutan showed it to Mexico – News

Lighting a cigarette in public spaces has been banned in Mexico since this week. The country now has one of the strictest tobacco laws in the world.

What does this mean for 15 million smoking Mexicans? The existing 2008 law, which required smoke-free areas in bars, restaurants and workplaces, is now being expanded to include a total ban in all public spaces. This also applies to parks, beaches, hotels, offices and restaurants.

Legend:

The display of cigarette packs is also no longer allowed in Mexico.

Reuters/DANIEL BECERRIL

In addition, advertising and sponsorship of tobacco products will be completely banned – and cigarettes will not be displayed aggressively in shops either.

This means that tobacco may only be legally smoked in private homes or in private outdoor areas. This also applies to so-called vapes and e-cigarettes, which are also subject to stricter new restrictions, especially indoors.

How is it in other countries? In addition to Mexico, New Zealand has also passed a new, tough package of laws in recent days – and will ban smoking for future generations. According to this, people born on or after January 1, 2009 may no longer be sold tobacco. The new laws are expected to come into force next year.

New Zealand’s government, led by outgoing Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, wants to make the country “smoke-free” by 2025.

Who is the strictest in Europe? In Europe, Great Britain rules with an iron fist. In the semi-autonomous regions of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the “Smoking Ban” has been in effect for some time. In England, the law passed in February 2006 only recently came into force.

Following Ireland’s example, smoking was banned in all public buildings, in restaurants and even in company cars. There are no exceptions, such as in Spain, where separate smoking areas are allowed despite the smoking ban. A blow to the pub culture and the end of the many shisha cafes.

Bhutan showed Mexico how: Bhutan banned smoking in public in 2010, 12 years before Mexico. In the kingdom on the Himalayan mountains, the distribution, production and sale of tobacco is even forbidden. Only the import of tobacco products for personal use is permitted. In the face of the bans, a black market has developed in the country, smuggling cigarettes from neighboring India.

Jigme Singe Wangchuk

Legend:

Bhutan’s former King Jigme Singe Wangchuk massively tightened smoking laws in the early 2000s.

Keystone/AJIT KUMAR

But why Bhutan? In the predominantly Buddhist country, where the tobacco plant is said to have grown from the blood of a demon, smoking is considered a sin and the strict laws are widely supported by large parts of the population. However, this story should not be anchored in writing anywhere.

Oldest tobacco law?


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Bhutan is probably one of the first countries in the world to pass a tobacco control law (1729) by His Holiness Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the country’s foremost leader. This had a significant impact on the non-use of tobacco products by monks and the religious community. Religious institutions and important public places such as the dzongs (central administration buildings) remain tobacco-free, and the majority of the older generation abstain from using tobacco products.

Costa Rica is the model student of the WHO: The Central American country has had one of the strictest smoking laws in the world since 2012. It banned cigarette consumption in most public and private buildings and in many outdoor areas, while also not allowing separate non-smoking zones.

The legislation resulted in a 49 percent increase in the price of cigarettes, with demand falling in subsequent years.

In addition, cigarette production ceased in 2018 and the country was included by the World Health Organization (WHO) in the list of countries most successful in meeting tobacco control goals.

Taxpayers’ money to treat tobacco-related diseases


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Costa Rica recently tightened its standards by banning the use of electronic cigarettes and vapes in public and introducing a tax on these devices to benefit the treatment of tobacco-related diseases.

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