www.CostaRicaTicas.com

What?? Costa Rica is banning smoking indoors? What a backward country! If they even think of removing the spittoons I am outta here.

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The most dangerous adversaries are the ones that come with a smile instead of a sword

I have no problem with a smoker being required to go outside to smoke. I certainly never liked people smoking in restaurants. The thing I hated most about the DR and KL was the the harsh amount of smoke. Their ventilation systems sucked. Now if they ban being anywhere on the property outside or so many feet from the property, then you are going to have people standing in the the streets which could get a little scarey.

Where the law appears unfair (to those who smoke) is that a private business, mainly bars, cannot have obtain a certain type permit for smoking patrons to smoke. Require it to have a sign posted classifying it a "Smoking Bar." That will give fair warning to people who do not smoke or want to be around cig/ cigar smoke. There will still be a lot of bars, casinos clubs that are smoke free. Sounds reasonable. I suppose that Cigar store/ bars are completely out now.

Yes I know this new law protects the majority of citizens and travelers. It is indeed a minority that smoke. Be aware that it is also a slippery slope with big government pushing us down it. Do any of you think that eventually a traveler going through customs in or out might have their cigarettes or cigars confiscated. Don't laugh....it is not out of possibility.

Another question to those who have read the law. Does this law ban a person using a tobacco free electronic cigarette or a herbal cigarette? Since neither sends toxins into the air or harms other people close by. If not, then old Circus here will soon be headed to CR to set up a very profitable business. I can see it now.....

"CIRCUS CLEAN CIGS", Inc.

Anyone out there wanting to invest? Just think, you would be helping thousands of Ticas, Ticos, foreigners and puffing CRT'ers quit their nasty habit and making them more healthy. Not to mention setting up a bar or two that caters to tobacco fee smokers. We could hire street vendors to push our product. Cha-ching...cha-ching.

And by the way, Circus Cardboard Inns welcomes tobacco smokers. We just won't serve food or alcohol anymore. I's now BYO.

Got to go, my company CEO, DonPapi is on the phone and my cat, Shitass wants to look at cat porn on the computer....Geezzzz

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Damn if I'm going to repeat this shit again. I need a drink.
I've been drinking vodka every day for 45 years and I have certainly never found it to be habit forming.

Hey Rob
So where are we smoking are cigars at brother? Also thanks again for all the research I owe ya man!

Dave

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LOL I would Love to never hear the word game used again ever again! :)

Dave, I think true cigar shops like HLH will be exempt (they are in most places) - problem, we don't know, because the while passed, the true provisions of the law , ie the devil is in the details, are not yet known. (And for those that say they are, I'd point to FL as a great example - a smoking ban passed like 75%/25% a few years ago and you can still for example smoke in a bar - indoors - that does less than 10% of their revinues from food, as well as in any cigar shop - plus there is plenty of outdoor seating - not the case in San Jose.

Yes, I realize indoor smoking world wide is going the way of the dodo bird, but I don't have to like it, and agree w/ Circus that people should make the choice where they want to eat, drink, and who to patronize. And its not an employee issue either - they can make a choice where to work if there is a choice.


Circus - really excellent post - I could not agree more

I would definitely agree that it would be taking things too far to worry over people smoking in a cigar shop. No one would have reason to be there other than cigar aficionados, but you know the logic that is Costa Rica. As a non-smoker, I eat at the SL quite frequently. Last night I'm sitting on the couch at the front watching basketball. As soon as my food arrives, an uneducated little gutter rat lights up not 10 feet away. I had been sitting there for a while. BUT. While she obviously had no upbringing or manners, it did not bother me in the least. Couldn't smell it. I guess it is because the front is open to the SL and the back patio too. There is good air flow. Of course they won't make exceptions, but everything is not so cut and dry as people tend to make it.

It might be noted that most countries, i.e. governments practice what few of the populace understand....and that is Incrementalism. Yes, the intent to protect non smokers is a widely accepted venture. But, it also dictates to the minority who do smoke that they are forbidden to enjoy an activity that they have had the freedom to do for years. Yes, a number of smokers go out of their way to not infringe on others....unfortunately, a larger percentage do not respect the non smoker and this new law becomes justice. I just wish that CR could address other societal problems that have been going on for so many years. Especially crime and the poor Ch*ldren having to sleep in the streets.

This does open a dialogue on just what many governments think you should not do and the PC police are more than ready to respond. Consume alcohol, pay for sex, eat high calorie foods, eat sugar foods, drink milk, eat meat, allow cows to fart or shit, eat breads....Oh hell, the list goes on. Before long...no one has a clue to just where the government will stop.

Believe me, This nice CR jewel in Central America will soon become off limits to the monger and other countries will follow. I've had the nice opportunity to have lived and enjoyed CR in the early 70's up to now. As I have stated before, I use to walk the streets and parks of SJ just about anywhere at 2 AM and never was accosted....never threatened. Do your thing while you can and enjoy it as best you can but be safe.

Oh and by the way....do not exhale while breathing. It' creates carbon dioxide. That adds to global warming.

Thanks Rob! I guess we'll see.

Circus great logic as always I a cigar smoke have no desire to inflict my habit on anyone it bothers I just wish there was some comprise like maybe leave it up to the business's. That way non smokers can go to non smoking places and smokers could go to where they are welcome. seems simple to me. Oh well!

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LOL I would Love to never hear the word game used again ever again! :)

It is simple and should be the choice of the business owner - if employees don't want to work there, last I heard slavery is illegal.

Sure, I know one has nothing to do with the other (sure.... ) but I see CR getting more and more like the USA every day - there is another thread in this section talking about baning prostitution and anything so related - while it likely will not, nor pass close to its current form, the fact that its up for discussion gives me apause - chip away a little bit at a time and soon you have a hole dug.

Yeah, I get it re smoking bans - but I sure as shit don't have to like it, nor do I have to accept that there cannot be some compromises, realizing the smokers are going to come out on the short end.

Your problem is you have a brain and what you say/write makes sense, Dave

If this law is enforced... it will be the demise of a number of businesses. If they give tico bars a pass then we can see how hypocritical the law is. It will not matter since we are guest in a foreign country and basically have no rights.

I have seen how justice works there being taken to the police station when ticos and ticas were not. I was a gringo and not afforded the same rights as the locals.

I spent 8 days during the 70's at a Mexican jail in a border town....that's another story.

I guess what I am trying to say is that I firmly believe that this is government's attempt to make it more less desirable for gringos to travel to CR and enjoy the sex trade. Just one more restriction to reduce our traffic. Hey, I am for less smoke in bars but I see their hidden intent.

Like I stated previously, wait until they go through your luggage and confiscate tobacco items...not to mention other items identified to the sex trade. Go ahead and laugh.....for now.

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Damn if I'm going to repeat this shit again. I need a drink.
I've been drinking vodka every day for 45 years and I have certainly never found it to be habit forming.

So gentlemen, what is the bottom line on this new law? I am arriving May 2nd. Does this mean I cannot sit by the open window at the Sportsmen's and have a cigar? Or will this be policed immediately?

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Love, peace, sex, and dope. If you have lost all that, you lost all hope!

Thank God! Last month I was in Chubbs twice, sitting at the bar beside a smoker on both occasions. The smoke was blowing right in my face. I couldn't move to another seat, as the bar (and tables) was FULL. Both times, once one cigarette was completely smoked, they lit another one up about two minutes later. It was either 'put up with it' or leave (I left).

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"In a nation ruled by swine, all pigs are upwardly mobile, and the rest of us are phucked until we can put our acts together; not necessarily to win, but mainly to keep from losing completely"...Hunter S. Thompson (RIP)

I hear ya I am a cigar smoker and if you were there first I would have offered you one and if you didn't partake I would have asked if you minded if I smoked. If it bothered you I would not have lit up or moved somewhere maybe even outside, many cigar smokers would do this. I also did this when I smoked cigs which I quit about four years ago after smoking for thirty. Now they even bother me. I still think there should be room for smoking and non smoking business's with it being up to the owner. Oh Well

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LOL I would Love to never hear the word game used again ever again! :)

I hate cigarette smoke, I don't mind cigar smoke, but if someone is courteous enough to ask if I mind if they smoke I always say I don't mind, because I believe in encouraging gentlemanly behavior. I could always move to another seat or another bar. This will soon be a moot point, but there is no reason to be an assh*le about it either way.

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" Omit no happy hour that may give furtherance to our expedition."

I'm waiting to see how the chicas wil handle the ban. 90% of them smoke like chimneys.

Law No. 9028 CONTROL LAW OS SNUFF EXECUTIVE DECREES. I wanted to post on fact versus speculation as it pertains to my cigar shop. Of course in CR their is always realities of enforcement, length of time, etc. which I won't comment on.

ARTICLE 4. Definitions k) Snuff products b]: includes products entirely or partly used as raw leaves and snuff intended to be smoked, sucked, chewde or used as snuff.

o) Snuff:plant Nicotina tababacum species that can cause addiction if its leaves are consumed in its natural form or are modified industrially.

CHAPTER II ARTICLE 5. Sites prohibited to smoke
n) areas or establishments where prepared, processed, taste it or sell foods, such as restaurants, bars and cafes.

The Havana Humidor Room is not a prohibited area or business.