Tobacco kills at least 8 million people each year. Most survivors eventually develop lung cancer, tuberculosis, asthma or chronic lung disease. Over the years, more and more countries have joined a growing trend in the fight against this drug by adopting increasingly restrictive measures that increasingly isolate smokers. In fact, we can say that this situation causes social etiquette rules to change a bit.

The last clear example we’ve just seen is in Mexico, which has banned smoking in nearly all public places from this year: smoke will disappear from restaurants, patios and parks.

new mexican law. On January 15, reform of the General Tobacco Control Act went into effect, which prohibits the “consumption or burning” of any nicotine product in “collective consensus” areas in addition to the promotion or advertisement. According to data from the National Institute of Public Health (INSP), the goal is to reduce access to tobacco for adolescents and reduce the smoking population of an estimated 15 million people.

The new regulation not only bans smoking in many public places, but also restricts its advertising. “All kinds of promotion and sponsorship of producers made with tobacco” is prohibited in all kinds of media. In addition to banning its display on store counters, it will penalize brands for advertising on social networks. influencersin your services streaming or as subliminal advertising in the cinema.

Where is it forbidden? The places specified in the regulation include “courtyards, terraces, balconies, parks or playgrounds where girls, boys and adolescents come together, sports facilities, beaches, show and entertainment centers, courts, stadiums, shopping malls, markets, hotels, hospitals, religious places of worship, places where food and drink are consumed and transportation stops”.

argument. Although Mexican business associations support doing something to improve the country’s health, they have criticized it. release There is no legal basis for the prohibition of displaying cigarettes. “Tobacco is legal and regulated in Mexico. It is a product whose commercialization is legitimate and therefore unfounded to ban its display.” to defend.

in Spain. Mexico’s decision is just one part of a larger and growing anti-tobacco trend. In our country, the Ministry of Health is preparing a new health reform. tobacco law of 2005which already changed in 2010and his drafts point to serious restrictions. Among them is that the price of tobacco will increase drastically, affecting the pockets of smokers.

If the rise in prices does not deter consumers, there will be barriers to smoking outdoors or in many places where smoking has been done before, such as on bar terraces. The last remaining bastions for smokers will no longer be available to him. The same will happen in sports stadiums, concerts, beaches, parks and even in the car.

trend in the world. As we mentioned before, Europe is acting together in its crusade against tobacco. There are 212 million Europeans living in countries that are smoke-free in all enclosed public spaces. They reside in France, United Kingdom, Italy, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Ireland, Iceland, Estonia, Lithuania and Malta.

In fact, Denmark has proposed limiting or even banning tobacco sales to those born after 2010 to prevent them from starting to smoke, something New Zealand has already done for those born after 2007 in 2021. It has developed a plan to increase the legal age of tobacco consumption from year to year, with the intention that no citizen will smoke by 2100. This “Dry Law on Tobacco” will be reviewed by the European Commission. If implemented, Spaniards who turn 18 in 2028 will not be able to buy tobacco.

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