Green Daily

It's hard for me to imagine walking into a Mexican bar and not encountering a cloud of cigarette smoke, but it's really happening. On Tuesday, lawmakers in Mexico City banned smoking in bars, offices, bus stations -- basically all enclosed public spaces nationwide. By taking on the smoking issue, Mexico joins countries like Britain, Brazil, and Norway who have taken on the mantle of public health crusaders.

Official figures say that about 65,000 people die of tobacco related illnesses each year in Mexico, and that the new ban will clean up the nation's indoor air pollution problem. Smoking in bars and restaurants will be allowed only in properly sealed-off smoking rooms or patio areas. Offenders could face a 36-hour stay in the local jail and restaurants fined up to $46,000. Yeouch!

Too bad it doesn't look like Mexico's outdoor air quality will be getting much legislative help. Ironically, the smoking ban seems to sidestep a much bigger environmental dilemma -- according to the WHO, breathing the air in Mexico City is equivalent to smoking two packs a day.