In January of this year, the capital's deputies approved amendments to several laws, requiring restaurants, cafes, bars, and discos to set aside 70% of their space for non-smokers. However, now the Legislative Assembly of the Federal District has decided to almost completely rid these establishments of tobacco smoke. Only in those that have open terraces or inner courtyards can one smoke without risking fines.
The law approved by Mexico City authorities in February officially comes into force in March, and then a person caught with a cigarette in a public place in Mexico City will have to pay a fine of between 500 and 1,500 pesos ($46 to $139). If this is repeated, the smoker will be detained by the authorities for 36 hours. Not only tobacco lovers will be punished, but also owners of public establishments that allow the law to be broken. Fines for them will reach several thousand dollars with the prospect of complete closure of the establishment. The only exception the capital's legislators made was for hotels, reports ITAR-TASS. But even in them, the number of smoking rooms must not exceed 25% of the total number of rooms.