How's that for kind of a vague subject line that doesn't commit to anything definite?

Costa Rica's congress has passed and the president is expected to sign a bill that would ban smoking in public places, including bars and restaurants. As is always the case in Costa Rica, the devil is in the details. What's not known at this point is when the law will take effect (likely later this year) and what the exact requirements will be. That will be for the Ministry of Health to determine as the government agency charged with enforcing such a law. There might also be a court challenge, although that's looking less likely than it did last week.

The law would also place restrictions on tobacco advertising -- there are still cigarette commercials on TV -- and would ban the sale of individual cigarettes.

Just a heads-up for anyone who is interested.

Gee if I had to guess there would be a $500 fine or thereabouts for smoking in the banned location/and only if you look gringo.

Just keep stabbing that golden goose, it will die eventually!

Pretty much as it is here in the US. I smoke, but always honor non-smoking bans.

There's no evidence that tourism has been hurt in any state or country because of a smoking ban.

We have all those laws here and more since 2006.

You cannot smoke outside any Public place unless you are over 15 feet away from the front door.

For example... a hospital worker cannot just walkout the door , lean against the building and light up....he has to stand away at least 15 feet from the building.

Also, children are allowed to breath free, clean air...so a

parent cannot smoke in the car if he has a child with him under the age of 18 .

The fines are steep.

Thanks for the information Jeff.

The law has now been challenged in Costa Rica's supreme court. The court has 30 days to issue a ruling. I hope they let it go through.

Percy, by "we" do you mean Costa Rica? Parents smoking in cars with kids is all over the U.S., from what I see.

They banned smoking in restaurants here a few years ago, in office buildings too. It's nice if you're a non-smoker. For a while you could still smoke in bars, but they were trying to change it. Not sure if that's ever passed. Percy, wow you can't smoke in a car with kids? I had never thought of that before. My grandpa used to smoke a pipe in the car with all the windows up and I hated it. I think it would be hard to pass that in the U.S. though.

Hi volcanogirl

Yes no smoking with children under the age of 18.

And now a new law is coming out this year, it was just in the newpaper the other day.

No smoking in the playground area.

Even though a playground area is open air.....there will be no smoking within the bounds of the playground area.

I was at our local hospital the other day.... I am sure this sight is repeated also in the USA......... people standing outside in the cold smoking, BUT

over 18 feet away from the building!!

The president signed the no-smoking bill into law this morning. It will take effect when is officially published. That's expected to be sometime in April.

The fine for lighting up in a public place will be 36,000 colones ($72).