Uruguay smoking ban tough??

From here:

By Conrado Hornos

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (Reuters) - Uruguay imposed a ban on smoking in public spaces on Wednesday, the stiffest restrictions on smoking in Latin America.

President Tabare Vazquez, a practicing oncologist, was the impetus behind the government-decreed measure, which is among the world's toughest and is similar to bans already in place in Ireland, Sweden, Norway and Spain.

The ban prohibits smoking in all enclosed public places, from bars and restaurants to office buildings and shopping malls. The government says smoking causes 5,500 tobacco-related deaths a year. About 1 million of Uruguay's 3.2 million people smokes.

Workers spilled out on the streets during their lunch hour on Wednesday, many puffing away on local Nevada brand cigarettes and lamenting the new regulations in this tiny South American nation.

"I have to order someone to do something he doesn't want to do (put out his cigarette) and then convince him to stay in my bar. This gives us a role we never sought to have," said Roberto Requejo, manager of the Pony Pisador bar.

But if Requejo doesn't enforce the law, his establishment faces a fine of about $1,000. And if inspectors catch people smoking in the bar again, the penalty doubles.

That leaves smoking Uruguayans safe to light up only at home or on the streets. Many people used to smoking at their desks will now have to ask for the boss's permission to slip outside.

That may be the toughest laws in socialist Latin America, but I wonder if the Uruguayans bothered to take a look at similar laws right here in "free" Minnesota:

234.30. Responsibilities of proprietors.The proprietor or other person in charge of a bowling alley, pool and billiard hall, or liquor or food establishment shall:

(1) Post "No Smoking" signs that comply with the Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act Rules, Minnesota Rules, part 4620.0500, as amended from time to time;

(2) Ensure that ashtrays, lighters, and matchbooks are not provided in any area where smoking is prohibited, however such prohibition against matchbooks shall not apply to matchbooks that are provided solely for ceremonial or promotional purposes; and

(3) Ask any person who smokes in an area where smoking is prohibited to refrain from smoking and, if the person does not refrain from smoking after being asked to do so, take the appropriate action to remove the person from the premises. (2004-Or-085, § 1, 7-23-04; 2005-Or-028, 4-29-05)

234.80. Violation and penalties.(1) Proprietors. It is a violation of this chapter for the proprietor or other person in charge of any premises subject to this chapter to fail to comply with the requirements of 234.30, or to retaliate against an employee, applicant for employment or customer, as prohibited by 234.50.

(2) Civil fines. Violations of this chapter may be enforced administratively pursuant to Chapter 2 of this Code. Each day of violation constitutes a separate offense.

(3) Adverse license action. Violation of any provision of this chapter by a licensee shall be adequate grounds for the denial, refusal to renew, revocation or suspension of said license.

(4) Enforcement. The provisions of this chapter shall be enforced by the department of operations and regulatory services, the police department and fire department.

(5) Injunctive relief. The city attorney may bring a civil action against the proprietor or other person in charge of a public place or place of work to enjoin repeated or continuing violations of this chapter. (2004-Or-085, § 1, 7-23-04)

See, Uruguayans, you may not have it quite as bad as you think. Just be thankful you don't have good ol' R.T. to contend with.


(Filed under limousine liberals, moonbat adventures)