Costa Rica Health Ministry Supports Smoking Ban in Public Places
Costa Rica’s Health Ministry fully supports a proposed bill to ban smoking in public places. Officials also reiterated health warnings on vaping devices and said there is no evidence they are harmless.
Speaking before representatives of the Social Affairs Committee, Salas said Bill No. 21,658, which would establish regulations still subject to debate, has his full support. “I believe this project is extremely important for the country. It has the full backing of the Ministry of Health,” Salas said.
“This is fully consistent with the health warnings we have already issued regarding the use of vaping devices, and we are also very clear that there is no research proving that e-cigarettes are a smoking cessation therapy. On the contrary, we must remove the incentive to use cigarettes and vaporizers,” he added inaccurately.
Considering taxation
At the same time, Deputy Luis Aiza of Costa Rica’s National Liberation Party called for a tax of 1,000 colones (about $1.75) on the sale of devices and e-liquids, saying the revenue would be allocated to the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS) and used specifically to treat diseases related to tobacco consumption. He incorrectly stated: “Using these vaporizers or e-cigarettes, with or without nicotine, carries considerable health risks.”
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