Argentina banned smoking in casinos and bingo halls

The House of Representatives sanctioned a law that will turn Argentina in the eighth country 100% smoke-free in Latin America. It will mean that smoking will only be permitted in homes and open spaces.

Besides, cigarette packs will have to include sanitary warnings with images and data about the free phone line for smokers to ask for help, and restrictions on advertising is imposed.
The norm had been approved by the Senate last August, with just one vote against the ban. Just in April the bill started to advance in the House of Representatives, with the favorable ruling of three commissions.

This week, it was given green light to the Commission of Budget, headed by Gustavo Marconato. The session started with many reasons in favor of the law, which will help to reduce the 40,000 annual deaths produced by tobacco.

This way, and with the new law approved, smoking will only be allowed in homes and outdoors: in the street, in squares and parks, and in non-covered stadiums.

There also may be clubs exclusively habilitated by the competent authority to taste tobacco. It is strictly forbidden to smoke in offices –both public and private-with the exemption  of private offices without attention to the public or employees–, casinos and bingo halls, discos, bars and restaurants, theatres, museums and libraries, public transport and covered stadiums”.