Tobacco.org

• Anti-Smoking Law in Effect in Chile  

Millions of Chileans will now be forced to take their cigarette breaks outside because of a tough nationwide anti-smoking law that took effect Monday.

The government said the measure, which bans smoking in schools, hospitals, government offices, stadiums, buses and other public places - aims to reduce an annual rate of 14,000 tobacco-related deaths in this country of 15.5 million people.

Smoking also will be restricted in restaurants, with large eateries given until May 2007 to create fully partitioned nonsmoking sections. Smaller restaurants will be able to choose between being smoke free or upgrading their ventilation systems. . . .

The new law also restricts tobacco advertising, including a ban on promoting cigarettes as light or low-tar. At least half of cigarette packaging must now be devoted to warnings about the health risks of tobacco.

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