Antismoking Bill Going Up In Smoke?

The Ley Antitabaco (antismoking law) is still a touch and go following the failed taking place of the required second and final vote of approval on Thursday.

Sources close to the process say that there is the strong possibility that the bill will be sent to the Constitutional Court for consultation before it is again placed on the legislative agenda for voting.

On Thursday, the count was four short for a legislative quorum to approve the bill that would ban smoking of cigarettes in public places and increase the tax by ¢20 colones on each cigarette, among others items.

Proposing to send the bill to the Constitutional Court is being spearheaded by the Movimiento Libertario (ML) party who failed last week to collect the sufficient signatures for a court consultation.

The reality of the situation is that the Proyecto de Ley Antitabaco (formal name) may, like many other bills, end up being "parked" in first debate and may end up to be matter up to private and public institutions to ban smoking in the work place, public and private buildings, rather than a matter of law.

One such public institution has already come out against smoking in their buildings, the Universidad Nacional (UNA) who announced on Friday the no tolerance of tobacco smoking in the classroom, laboratories, offices, library, meeting rooms, restrooms and green areas on university property.

The intent of the institution, said the press release, is not only to make it a smoke-free campus, but for students and other members of the UNA can make aware of the importance of mental and physical health and the dangers of smoking.

Francisco González, academic vice chancellor and secretary of the University Council, said this measure is in addition to the prohibitions as the use, possession and sale of alcohol and drugs. The university also provides for penalties for officials and students who violate these provisions.

Meanwhile, on the legislative front, although last Monday the legislators approved the antismoking bill in first debate, the whole process could go up in smoke, as legislator move to more important bills like the Plan Fiscal (Tax Reforms) and Ley de Tránsito.

Inside Costa Rica interviewed several smokers around the bars on Friday night, Costa Ricans who don't consider themselves smokers, do so while drinking, that the bill would not pass. And if it did, it really wouldn't change anything, as far as the bars and discos is concerned.