www.CostaRicaTicas.com

what are the odds of cigarettes and cigars, along with smoking in public places being outlawed?

the article in AM Costa Rica, page 1, seems to suggest that some sort of legislation will definitely be passed as the article says CR has promised to pass some sort of new law in compliance with international agreements on tobacco use and sales.

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(export version only, some restrictions may apply, some assembly required, not valid where the sun don't shine...

if you live in the states of Poverty, Darkness or anywhere outside of The Blessings of Civilization Trust, Inc...other rules may apply)

Passing laws they are good at. Enforcement? Not so much....

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Disclaimer: The above is merely the opinion of the author unless specific scientific data is included.
Your mileage may vary. https://costaricaticas.com/phpBB2/viewto ... 978#206978

I'm not a smoker so I didn't read the article closely, but it seems they are going to raise taxes (ergo, prices) and outlaw the selling of single cigarettes. I am tolerant enough to accept smelling like an ashtray after a night out and feel it's ok to smoke in a bar, though smoke free bars are a more enjoyable place for me, all other things being equal. But even though I'm a supporter of (most) smoker's rights, don't expect me to join the parade. That's what you're going to do, right smokers? It worked against crime, after all!

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"The only normal people are those you don't know very well." Joe Ancis

The problem with smoking bans in the US (which ARE rigidly enforced) is that there were no exceptions for entrepreneurial compliance. You can't have a room with exceptional air evacuation, you can't (in the main) have a separate room for smokers, you can't have barkeeps and waiters sign a waiver to serve those rooms, you just can't have... It is bludgeon bureacracy at it's worst.

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"Amen, brother"-ED

Something I noticed on my two previous trips to SJ was that I didn't see that many Ticos smoking. Certainly some were but most of the smokers I saw were gringos in bars.

Like Mark Twain I quit smoking all the time but currently I am in a smoking period. Smokes are a lot cheaper in CR than in the US. I paid an average of $2 a pack for Marlboros on my last trip. Smoking is a crap habit but really hard to totally stop.

The higher taxes are a good thing if they actually go to paying for the obvious extra health care needed by us smokers. But I really doubt it ever goes there. I've never believed higher prices will make people quit. Many say they will because of higher prices but none ever do. I do think peer pressure is a motivation. In general smokers have become pariahs in society. Maybe that's a good thing.

Even my state Virginia, a major tobacco growing and cigarette manufacturing state they have recently raised tobacco taxes and banned smoking in restaurants. Kind of funny since the state was built on that product. But then again I don't know that many people here who smoke.

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