No ifs, ands or butts about it: Puerto
Rico's new smoke-free regulations take effect March 2, placing it
at the forefront of Caribbean destinations with a comprehensive
smoking ban.
Puerto Rico joins
a growing list of global destinations that have passed and
implemented strong smoke-free regulations, including New York
state, California, Massachusetts, Washington, London, South Africa,
Ireland and Scotland, among others.
The new law
prohibits smoking at all food establishments (restaurants,
cafeterias, coffee shops and fast food outlets); cultural centers
(museums and theaters); casinos; bars, pubs, and nightclubs;
convention centers; shopping centers; public and government
buildings, and schools.
Hotel rooms
designated as smoke-friendly are exempt from the smoking
ban.
However, hotels
are required to post the new regulations in every guest room and to
implement proper ventilation and maintenance procedures in rooms
where smoking is permitted.
To contact the reporter who wrote this article, send e-mail
to Gay Nagle Myers at [email protected].