A strict new law entered into force last week, much stricter than in many Western countries. The target is smoking. Not only will Honduran smokers face heavy fines if they smoke on public transport, in bars, hotels, malls and offices from now on but they will also have to stand at least 1.8 metres away from non-smokers in public spaces, and passive smokers in private residences will even be able to file complaints. Costa Rica is in the process of pushing through a similar law, although without a provision invading the private sphere, and Panama last week stiffened an existing anti-tobacco law. Uruguay, which began the regional anti-smoking trend, is in the midst of a legal battle with the tobacco giant Philip Morris International which showcases the struggle between free trade and public health policy.
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