Mexico City's New Smoke-Free Law Sets Example for Latin America...( Statement of Matthew L. Myers ...),Health

Statement of Matthew L. Myers

President, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is a statement of Matthew L. Myers, President, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids:

Setting important examples for Latin America and the world, both the Mexico City legislature and the national Mexican legislature on Tuesday took significant action to reduce tobacco use and its devastating toll.

Mexico City's Federal District Legislative Assembly (ALDF) approved historic legislation requiring that all indoor workplaces and public places, including restaurants and bars, be 100 percent smoke-free. The Mexico City legislation is a major step forward in protecting the health of the city's 15 million residents and workers and adds momentum to the growing, global smoke-free movement. We hope that Mexico City, as one of the world's largest cities, will serve as a catalyst for similar smoke-free action throughout Latin America and around the world.

In Latin America, Mexico City joins Uruguay, Panama (new law to be implemented April 2008), and three Argentinean provinces in having comprehensive smoke-free laws. Brazil is expected to consider such legislation later this year.

Worldwide, France, Thailand, Turkey, and 11 German states have already adopted or implemented smoke-free laws in 2008. Other countries that have previously implemented strong smoke-free laws include: Bermuda, Bhutan, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Eleven of 13 Canadian provinces, seven of eight Australian states, and 23 of 50 U.S. states (along with the District of Columbia) have also adopted such laws.

Mexico City joins other great world cities that are already or are about to be smoke-free, including New York, London, Paris, Hong Kong and Bangkok. It is particularly encouraging that strong smoke-free measures have been adopted in many countries and citie
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