On February 21st, the Mexican Senate is scheduled to vote on an anti-tobacco measure which, if it becomes law, would severely restrict public smoking nationwide.
This proposed law is not to be confused with a Mexico City smoking restriction law which is only for that city. The new measure is for the whole country.
Smoking tobacco has a long history in Mexico. It was practiced by the Mayan culture at least since the 900s. A carving from a temple in Palenque, Chiapas, portrays a Mayan priest smoking.
Tobacco was part of Aztec mythology – an Aztec goddess known as Cihuacoahuatl was portrayed as having a body of tobacco. Aztec priests carrying out human sacrifice donned tobacco gourds as part of their costumes while aristocratic Aztec banquets began with the distribution of smoking tubes.
Tobacco was used throughout the pre-Columbian Western Hemisphere.
After Columbus’ arrival in 1492, European sailors took tobacco to far-flung corners of the Old World, where it became a part of many cultures worldwide.
Mexico is a profitable market for Big Tobacco. The most popular brand is Marlboro, accounting for nearly half of all cigarette sales in the country. Tobacco manufacturer Philip Morris sells over 60% of all the cigarettes sold.
It’s also estimated that about 150 Mexicans die a week from tobacco-related health problems. This costs Mexico a lot of money, not only in medical expenses, but in the impact it has on the labor force and on Mexican families.
History’s first known smoking ban was enacted in 1590 by Pope Urban VII who prohibited (under pain of excommunication) the use of tobacco in churches. In the 1600s and 1700s there were smoking bans in various parts of German-speaking Europe, which were all repealed after the Revolutions of 1848.
The first government to really go after tobacco was the Nazi regime in Germany, which was strongly anti-tobacco and carried out major publicity campaigns against its use. The Nazis banned tobacco use in universities, post offices, military hospitals and Nazi Party offices.
In the latter part of the 20th century smoking bans were enacted in various U.S. states, and in Europe, and have continued to be strengthened in many countries, despite opposition from tobacco companies (obvious reasons), restaurants (business reasons) and civil libertarians ( philosophical principles).
In comparison to the U.S. and Europe, Mexico has been a little slow in the enactment of such laws, but is catching up quick.
A 2003 Mexican law stipulated that restaurants must reserve 40% of their space for non-smokers and have ventilation systems that would remove the smoke. That legislation banned smoking in such public venues as hospitals, banks, public restrooms and government offices.
Last month, the aforementioned Mexico City law came into effect. The new federal anti-smoking law would prohibit smoking in offices, schools, restaurants and cafeterias. There can still be designated smoking areas but they must be in the open air, or in isolated rooms. Fines are set to run from 5,000 pesos (for individual smokers) to 5 million pesos (for businesses).
The measure has already been approved by the Cámara de Diputados (House of Representatives). On Feb. 14th, the Senate Commissions of Health, environment and Legislative Studies approved the new General Law for the Control of Tobacco. The full Senate is scheduled to vote on it on February 21st.
The law has noble aspirations , but many questions could be raised about tobacco prohibitions . Banning tobacco in a government building is one thing, but banning it in a private restaurant quite another.
Allan Wall allan39@prodigy.net.mx resides and teaches in Mexico.
