Honduras goes non-smoking - even in the home

[kpete]

Honduras seeks to stop smoking — even at home
AP


By FREDDY CUEVAS, Associated Press Freddy Cuevas, Associated Press – Tue Feb 22, 1:54 am ET

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras – Lighting up a cigarette at home could bring a visit from Honduran police if a family member or even a visitor complains about secondhand smoke.

A new law that took effect Monday banning smoking in most public and private spaces doesn't actually outlaw cigarettes inside homes, but it does have a provision allowing people to file complaints about secondhand smoke in homes.

Violations would bring a verbal warning on the first offense. After that could come arrest and a $311 fine — the equivalent of the monthly minimum wage in this Central American country.

Even some anti-smoking advocates suspect that part of the law may not work.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110222/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/lt_honduras_no_smoking

[mediator]

1. Having spent a fair amount of time in Tegucigalpa, I find this almost comical

the place sits in a bowl and is usually choked with auto and bus exhaust fumes. I guess those aren't a problem.
:eyes:

(Once long ago, I was invited to a party by the current President just because I happened to wander into the room where it was being held - I got pretty drunk on his rum. Found out a few weeks later he had been 'deposed'.) :D

[RagAss]

2. Did Mike Bloomberg take over there?

[customerserviceguy]

3. While I've never smoked

and feel like I'm the beneficiary of all the anti-smoking laws that have been passed (my, it's much nicer to go to a sports bar these days), I feel this is way too much.

We have seen what prohibition has done with alcohol and with drugs, adding tobacco to the list is not going to make things better in the end.