www.CostaRicaTicas.com

As a non smoker who hates the smell of the smoke, I like the idea. Imagine not being in a cloud of smoke while hanging out at the SL? Excellent.

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I believe in moderation in everything except excess.
I phuck 'em just to see the look on their face.
Klatu, berata, nicto.

Bars are for smoking and drinking, if all you fascist don't like smoke, stay in your room and order your whores in.

Nothing more nausiating than an anti-smoker trying to control everything.

Grrrrrrrrr!!!!!

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"If you dont think women are explosive,....drop one."

SL is also for eating, nothing worse than trying to enjoy a meal with some drunken tool blowing smoke in your face.

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Living well is the best revenge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwUtj_YnNoY

You both make my point(s) for me:

Drunks can be assholes; its one of the most prevetable forms of stupidity out there - when I hear someone start a conversation with words to the effect of "...boy was I drunk last light" I want to say shut up, grow up, and if its a consistant habit get help (become a friend of Bill - no, not the guy who owns the Sportsmans; the guy who founded AA - those in the program are known as friends of Bill W - no last names are used - I'll save some a google search ) So no surprise drunks do stupid, thoughtless things, in addition to talking a lot of nonsense

With a little accomodation and compromise, both sides could find middle ground - the air cleaning technology certainly exists - and don't for a seccond believe it will not effect the revinues of bars, res't and casinos - it will.

In Florida, where I reside, there is a group called "Tobaccco Free Florida" - the name says it all; no compromise, no nothing, just a ban.

Because at heart (believe it or not ) I'm a live and let live guy, with a fondness for much of the Libertarian philosophy - but the "other side" wants an outright ban - and not one inch of accomodation - and to me, that's not the way to go, especially when other alternatives exist that could assist both sides.

We never lose all our civil liberities all at once. They are taken away one by one as one side cheers as the liberty is removed from others. It works every time. Costa Rica is just catching up with the USA in the removing of civil liberties. All for the common good of course.
Every time legislation like this starts, it leads to further legislation. Seatbelts? Its a good idea to wear your seatbelt. We lost the right to choose to wear it. Now, it’s simply a ticket. As Dashiell Hammett wrote, "If you want to find the truth, follow the money." The Policia will be primed to add revenue with this one. With smoking it always start with banning it from the bars/restaurants, then public places even legislation to ban it in your own car and home if you have Ch*ldren. Whats next? Substitute bacon for ciggerrett. Just as bad for you. Think not? Trans fat legislation is already happening under the plause that it places a strain on the Public Health System in the US and Europe. Whats next in CR? Gambling? Maybe. Prostitution, more than maybe.

"Accustomed to trample on the rights of others, you have lost the genius of your own independence and become the fit subjects of the first cunning tyrant who rises among you" Abraham Lincoln (1858)

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Man Who Walk Through Airport Turnstile Sideways Going To Bangkok.

As I posted previously, the legislative and court system are much different in CR. I posted about the Sala IV. Today, the forst ruling.
Sala IV orders the Executive to suspend publication of smoking ban Legislation is on hold pending resolution of the request submitted by 10 deputies02/03/2012 24:35Mora Bermúdez KattiaThe Constitutional Court received this Friday to study the legislative consultation on the draft "Law snuff control and its harmful health effects."Although the bill was approved on second reading with 45 votes in favor and two against, the Constitutional Court ordered the executive to suspend the penalty and publication of regulations consulted to resolve the merits of the request submitted by 10 Members."Such an arrangement was made ​​because it was signed by ten members, and approval of the project was first debate, and is made ​​in a reasoned way, with details of the aspects that raise constitutional objections, at the discretion of the consultants' justified Sala IV said in a statement.ng by Sala IV

Interesting quote. Perhaps you might want to consider this before you hold Lincoln out a a stalwart defender of civil liberties.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Now it is clear why the administration felt it will take 18 months before the legislation becomes enforceable.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Whether you are a smoker or not there is something this world needs more of and that is less government intrusion. Smoking is something that should be left up to the business owners discretion and not mandated by the lawmakers.

Interesting how passionate people feel about the topic. No matter what we believe, it is happening all over the world. I couldn't believe back when I heard they had smoking regulations in France. When I lived there, everybody smoked.

I will defend your right to choke yourself to death slowly with cigarette smoke, in the privacy of YOUR (smoking) room, with every ounce of my being.

However, don't assume the rest of us want to accompany you on your suicidal journey.

mh

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mh

Rumor has it that Sala IV is following this thread on CRT closely before making up their minds on the issue.

Today's Tico Times, once in a while I get it right:

"New smoking regulations will not go into effect yet".

The Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court (Sala IV) on Friday ordered the Executive Branch to suspend the signing and publication of a recently passed anti-smoking bill.

At 11:30 a.m., the Sala IV responded to a consultation made by 10 lawmakers to determine if the new law contradicts constitutional principles.

The Legislative Assembly approved the anti-tobacco bill in a second debate Feb. 27, and the bill awaited President Laura Chinchilla’s signature to be published into law in the official government newspaper La Gaceta.

The process is now stalled until Sala IV rules on the bill’s constitutionality. The court has 30 days to issue a ruling. If the Sala IV determines certain aspects of the bill are unconstitutional, it could delay the implementation of anti-smoking reforms even longer. The decision came despite the bill's approval by lawmakers in a 45-2 vote.

Rita Chaves, of the Access Without Exclusion Party, expressed outrage at the court’s decision through her Twitter account. Chaves, who led the committee drafting the bill, wrote “not a single law exists that permits the court to the executive branch to not enact a law.”

However, the president stated she would abide by the court’s decision.

The bill bans smoking in places such as bars, restaurants, public buildings, bus stops and taxi stands. Individual cigarettes will be taxed an extra â‚¡20 (4 cents). The bill requires cigarette packs to display text and photo warnings on at least 50 percent of the box. Guatemala, Honduras and Panama already have approved similar measures in past years."

only problem with ‘hot boxers' is that shit tends to waft everywhere and anywhere but out the window (seemingly always in the direction of the innocent). sure smokers have rights. and so do those who are doing nothing to infringe upon the health of others by simply having an espresso.

reality is costa rica needs to come to terms with the scientific evidence and educate its populous of the use and
second hand exposure to this shit.

if ireland (the first EU nation to do so) can do it - it can be done here. simple as that.

choose the continued march to self destruction within the confines of your own self imposed prison sentence - preferably a dumpster of your selection.

Most of these people bitching the loudest are exsmokers and what really bothers them is not the smoke so much as that rich american tabacco smell that you can pick up from the far end of a Safeway parking lot as you exit the store. You know the one that brings you back to a better time sitting at the bar at the DelRey chatting up a chica with a freshly delivered ice cold Imperial sitting in front of you and you fire that baby up take a drag and at that moment in time you know life is so good. Taking that away is a crime but so is listening to a bunch of whinney little bitchy exsmokers who are really worried that they will fall off the exsmoker bandwagon if they so much as see a cigarette.