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SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF SMOKE FREE MEXICO CITY

Friday, 27th of April 2012

• STRONG ADVOCACY LED TO SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF SMOKEFREE MEXICO CITY

‘The Tobacco industry's power at higher levels of government makes implementing smokefree policies at the federal level a challenge in many countries. Tobacco companies oppose smokefree policies using front groups, usually through the hospitality industry and smokers' rights groups. Since the tobacco industry is less influential at the subnational level, strong local smokefree legislation has been easier to enact and implement than national legislation in many developed countries. ‘

Eric Crosbie1, Ernesto M Sebrié2, Stanton A Glantz1

+ Author Affiliations

1Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA

2Department of Health Behavior, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York, USA

Correspondence to Stanton A Glantz, Professor of Medicine, Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education, Room 366 Library, 530 Parnassus, San Francisco, CA 94143-13990; glantz@medicine.ucsf.edu

Abstract

Objective

To describe the approval process and implementation of the 100% smokefree law in Mexico City and a competing federal law between 2007 and 2010.

Methods

 Reviewed smokefree legislation, published newspaper articles and interviewed key informants.

Results

Strong efforts by tobacco control advocacy groups and key policymakers in Mexico City in 2008 prompted the approval of a 100% smokefree law following the WHO FCTC. As elsewhere, the tobacco industry utilised the hospitality sector to block smokefree legislation, challenged the City law before the Supreme Court and promoted the passage of a federal law that required designated smoking areas. These tactics disrupted implementation of the City law by causing confusion over which law applied in Mexico City. Despite interference, the City law increased public support for 100% smokefree policies and decreased the social acceptability of smoking. In September 2009, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the City law, giving it the authority to go beyond the federal law to protect the fundamental right of health for all citizens.

Conclusions

Early education and enforcement efforts by tobacco control advocates promoted the City law in 2008 but advocates should still anticipate continuing opposition from the tobacco industry, which will require continued pressure on the government. Advocates should utilise the Supreme Court's ruling to promote 100% smokefree policies outside Mexico City. Strong advocacy for the City law could be used as a model of success throughout Mexico and other Latin American countries.