Smoking in Argentina accounts for 15% of total tobacco consumption in the Americas. There are a number of smoking restrictions in place in different jurisdictions, and a nationwide
governmental
A government is the system or group of people governing an organized community, generally a State (polity), state.
In the case of its broad associative definition, government normally consists of legislature, Executive (government), e ...
campaign against tobacco smoking and
advertising
Advertising is the practice and techniques employed to bring attention to a product or service. Advertising aims to put a product or service in the spotlight in hopes of drawing it attention from consumers. It is typically used to promote a ...
. Since June 1, 2011 a smoking ban in all of Argentina prohibits smoking in workplaces, all public indoor areas, schools, hospitals, museums and libraries, theatres, and all public transport.
The smoking percentage of the adult population of Argentina is not known; tobacco causes more than 100 deaths every day in Argentina (40,000 per year, 6,000 due to secondhand smoke), and the cost of the treatment of tobacco-related diseases amounts to 6020 million
Argentine peso
The peso (established as the ''peso convertible'') is the currency of Argentina, identified by the symbol $ preceding the amount in the same way as many countries using peso or dollar currencies. It is subdivided into 100 '' centavos''. Its ISO 4 ...
s ($1324 million
USD
The United States dollar (symbol: $; code: USD; also abbreviated US$ or U.S. Dollar, to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies; referred to as the dollar, U.S. dollar, American dollar, or colloquially buck) is the official ...
) per year, 15.5% of the total public expenditure on
health care
Health care or healthcare is the improvement of health via the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, amelioration or cure of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in people. Health care is delivered by health profe ...
. The government collects 3500 million pesos per year in taxes on cigarettes.
Law
National Law 23344, passed on 29 August 1986, established restrictions on advertising and promotion of tobacco, and dictated that
cigarette
A cigarette is a narrow cylinder containing a combustible material, typically tobacco, that is rolled into thin paper for smoking. The cigarette is ignited at one end, causing it to smolder; the resulting smoke is orally inhaled via the opp ...
packs must include a legend warning that ''Smoking is harmful to health'', but did not include sanctions against violations of the law; these were added later, and then partially vetoed.
WHO Framework Convention
In September 2003 Argentina signed the
WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
The World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) is a treaty adopted by the 56th World Health Assembly held in Geneva, Switzerland on 21 May 2003. It became the first World Health Organization treaty adopted under ...
, though ratification was delayed by two years. Analysts blame
tobacco industry
The tobacco industry comprises those persons and companies who are engaged in the growth, preparation for sale, shipment, advertisement, and distribution of tobacco and tobacco-related products. It is a global industry; tobacco can grow in any ...
interests for this delay, as with previous failures in implementing serious anti-smoking policies.
Legislative deadlock
, a proposal to prohibit smoking in all public and enclosed spaces, sent by the Executive to the National Congress in August 2005, was awaiting consideration. Legislative lobbying from the tobacco industry proposed an alternative, weaker law, championed by
Jujuy Province
Jujuy is a province of Argentina, located in the extreme northwest of the country, at the borders with Chile and Bolivia. The only neighboring Argentine province is Salta to the east and south.
Geography
There are three main areas in Jujuy:
* ...
Senator Liliana Fellner, who called herself "the voice of the
obaccoproducers" (Jujuy is one of the seven tobacco-producing provinces in Argentina).
Public sentiment
A nationwide telephone survey published in August 2006 showed overwhelming support of the population for laws that establish "smoke-free spaces" in public spaces such as offices, factories, shopping malls and banks (93.4% overall support, 85% among smokers), and that completely forbid smoking in schools, universities and hospitals (97%). More than three quarters among the surveyed (including almost two thirds of the smokers) also supported smoking bans for bars and restaurants.
Provincial and municipal laws on smoking
In 2003, according to national sources, 75% of the
Argentine provinces had some form of smoke-free legislation. Either in addition to or in the absence of provincial laws, many
municipalities
A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate.
The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...
have local regulations to the same effect. Fines might be established for trespassers (tobacco companies, businesses and private individuals). The actual application of this legislation varies considerably.
* In
Santa Fe it is forbidden to smoke in enclosed public spaces (offices, restaurants) and to sell tobacco to minors since 2005. ''(Provincial Law 12432)''
* In
La Rioja
La Rioja () is an autonomous community and province in Spain, in the north of the Iberian Peninsula. Its capital is Logroño. Other cities and towns in the province include Calahorra, Arnedo, Alfaro, Haro, Santo Domingo de la Calzada, and Nà ...
and
Chubut it is forbidden to smoke in enclosed spaces and in public offices.
* In
Mendoza there are also "smoke-free spaces" in schools, hospitals and other public buildings.
* In
CĂłrdoba ''(Provincial Law 9113, CĂłrdoba Municipal Order 11039)'' and
Tucumán ''(Provincial Law 7575)'', smoking bans for public places are in effect since mid-2006.
* In
Buenos Aires City
Buenos Aires ( or ; ), officially the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires ( es, link=no, Ciudad AutĂłnoma de Buenos Aires), is the capital and primate city of Argentina. The city is located on the western shore of the RĂo de la Plata, on South ...
it is forbidden to smoke in government offices and (since October 2006) in all public enclosed spaces, except in businesses of more than 100 m² where smoking areas have been set up. ''(Law 1799)''
[ ClarĂn. 1 October 2006.]
''Ley antitabaco: largan los controles y hay pocos locales reformados''
*
Chaco,
Neuquén
Neuquén (; arn, Nehuenken) is the capital city of the Argentine province of Neuquén and of the Confluencia Department, located in the east of the province. It occupies a strip of land west of the confluence of the Limay and Neuquén rivers w ...
,
Tierra del Fuego
Tierra del Fuego (, ; Spanish for "Land of the Fire", rarely also Fireland in English) is an archipelago off the southernmost tip of the South American mainland, across the Strait of Magellan. The archipelago consists of the main island, Isla G ...
and
Salta
Salta () is the capital and largest city in the Argentine province of the same name. With a population of 618,375 according to the 2010 census, it is also the 7th most-populous city in Argentina. The city serves as the cultural and economic ce ...
have similar laws.
See also
*
Health in Argentina
Argentina's health care system is composed of a universal health care system and a private system. The government maintains a system of public medical facilities that are universally accessible to everyone in the country, but formal sector worke ...
References
{{Smoking by country
Health in Argentina