ABOUT THE LIVING LIFE IN COSTA RICA BLOG

I (Vicki Skinner - aka "THE Sarong Goddess") created this blog in 2007 to share DETAILED Finds•Lists•Info•Events•Experiences to help bring more EASE to people living in, visiting or thinking of moving to Costa Rica since DETAILS are NOT easy to find!
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Sunday, December 30, 2012

SMOKING LAWS in Costa Rica & Where IS Smoking Allowed and Not

As of October 2012, Costa Rica finally has joined the ranks of many other countries in creating some tight Anti-Smoking laws (YEAHHH!!!)!!!!

THE ANTI-SMOKING LAW
Ley General de Control del Tabaco y sus Efectos Nocivos en la Salud



WHAT IS BANNED?
Smoking in public of products containing Nicotiana Tabacum - aka Cultivated Tobacco.



WHAT AREAS ARE BANNED:
 Smoking of ALL tobacco products are now banned in ALL public places* - including bars, cafes, restaurants, clubs, the workplace, bus stops, festivals, taxis, taxi stands, elevators, trains, ATM's, shopping centers and hotel common grounds.

Special "Smoking areas" designated exclusively for smokers are illegal.
 (I don't get not allowing smoking exclusive areas - especially if employees like waiters don't have to go there)

Also it's illegal to sell less than 1 pack of cigarettes
(????  Was this rule made TO get people to buy a WHOLE pack of cigarettes vs just get a 1-2 cigarette fix???  Now THIS seems to defeat the purpose if the reason they're doing this is to help people with their healt

I'm sure it will cut back for many people, but might many of them just take it home & inflict it on their children/family - especially if they haven't learned to deal with life's stresses in a healthier way?  Does not sound very "family values/friendly" to me.)


(I'm impressed by much of these things & I am an avid anti-smoker [hey - if you want to kill yourself - go ahead but don't expect me to be there saying "Poor baby"] but some of this seems like it will cut back for many people, but might many of them just take it home & inflict it on their children/family - especially if they haven't learned to deal with life's stresses in a healthier way?  Does it sound very "family values/friendly" to you??)


FINES:
PEOPLE - CAUGHT SMOKING IN RESTRICTED AREAS:   
60,000-colones/$110-ish (interesting, last I saw when it started March 2012, it was just 36,600-colones)

BUSINESSES - PERMITTING CUSTOMERS TO SMOKE IN RESTRICTED AREAS
54,900-colones/$110ish (I'm sure this has gone up)


*NOT BANNED
On the streets (except taxi stands and bus stops) and Beaches.


OTHER PARTS OF THE LAW
It looks like it also bans selling individual cigarettes or anything less than a full pack•cajetilla that has 20 cigarettes
(the fine for someone selling anything less is 36,000-colones/$72ish!)

Cigarette packs and advertising displays MUST display text and a nasty photo with the warning on the dangers of smoking on at least 50% of the box.
(I LOVE this as it was in the '60's when the U.S. Surgeon General came out with this law that got my mom to quit smoking - saying she had no right to tell us not to smoke if she was doing it!!  CONSCIOUS Parenting!!!)

Advertising on billboards, events and promotions now have some sort of regulations but I have not found yet what that means.


TAX INCREASE
Taxes increased 20-colones/.04¢-ish per cigarette


WHERE DOES THE TAX MONEY GO?:
60% goes towards Social Security System to treat tobacco-related illnesses and create programs to help smokers quit!



NOT BANNED:
Electronic cigarettes • e-Cigarette • eCig • Personal Vaporizer or PVs
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_cigarette
They are an electronic inhaler that vaporizes a mixed propylene glycol- and vegetable-based Glycerol-based liquid solution into an aerosol mist, simulating the act of tobacco smoking by producing an inhaled vapor bearing the physical sensation, appearance, and often the flavor and nicotine content of inhaled tobacco smoke, without its odor or, ostensibly, its health risks. The device uses heat (or in some cases, ultrasonics) to vaporize a propylene glycol- or glycerin-based liquid solution into an aerosol mist, similar to the way a nebulizer or humidifier vaporizes solutions for inhalation.


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As of now there are NO LONGER the Private Smoke Clubs (mainly for cigars).

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WARNING!!!   
FAKE CIGARS - ESPECIALLY "Cuban's"
Sadly, there seem to be MANY places around Costa Rica selling fake cigars - especially Cubans!!  I hear the biggest proliferation seemed to be 5-packs of Montecristo #4's, plus Cohibas and Romeo Y Julitas as well.
These are OFTEN found in Tourist and Souvenir shops.

With that said - here's where you can buy REAL cigars - many made in Costa Rica, Nicaragua (I hear that Cuba has even sent some seeds over to Nicaragua and they're EXCELLENT and they are growing them on such places as Isla Ometepe and Granada!!!)



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WHERE TO BUY CIGARS
(some even CUBANS!!!
Disclaimer [to cover my tush!!] - American's still are not allowed to purchase Cuban Cigars or you risk a HUGE like $10,000 [though a way around)


VEGAS SANTIAGO "MADE IN COSTA RICA CIGARS"
(VegasSantiago.com/factory.htm  •   8-815-4304  •  2-458 - 3179  •  VegasSan@gmail.com)  
MANUFACTURERS of premium cigars in Costa Rica.  I hear their special "Signature Brand" of Cigar Tobacco is "touched by the Gods" ... because it is grown with the "Secrets of the Shaman" from  the rainforests of Costa Rica.
LANGUAGES:
English, German, French 

LOCATION:
Puriscal




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DON BENIGNO "MADE IN COSTA RICA CIGARS"
Don Benigno Cigars - MADE IN COSTA RICA, plus a large selection of national and international cigars (guaranteed 100% genuine and kept in prime conditions), as well as lighters, cutters, and other smoking related souvenirs and gifts.
HOURS:  
Monday to Saturday - 10am - 7pm.  Sunday - 10am to 6pm
LOCATION:  
Pavas - Commercial Center Plaza Mayor, Stage 2
(BenignoCigars.com/plaza_mayor_costa_rica  •  2-296-8111  •  



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Isthmus Cigars
Made in Costa Rica (base), Nicaragua and Honduras

(facebook.com/pages/Isthmus-Cigars/191335999771  •  IsthmusCigars.com  •  KurtBrandt@IsthmusCigars.com)



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There at least USED to be a Cigar Lounge at the
White House up in San Antonio de ESCAZU
(now called Grand Tara).
I'm looking into this
2288-6362


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Hotel Little Havana
Cigar Bar and Walk-in Humidor (and hotel [lets just say it’s not a “family hotel”!!])


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Smoking Club in San Pedro
2-224-5227
(I'm not positive if they are still in business as the listing I had was dated back in the late 2000s)


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"Bar La Castilla" in the Marriot Hotel in San Antonio de Belen
??




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CIGARS FROM 
NICARAGUA
vs 
CUBA!!!!


I hear THE HOTTEST CIGARS in the WORLD these days - even surpassing Cuban Cigars - AND winning MANY awards are coming from
NICARAGUA
When I was on Isla Ometepe in the middle of Lake Nicaragua we visited one of the main farms providing tobacco leaves to
Padron.com
Their Padron 1926 is supposed to be SUPERB!!!  



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TIPS FOR BRINGING YOUR CIGARS BACK TO THE U.S.



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This is a good thing since Bringing back to the U.S. - heck - or even Smoking
CUBAN CIGARS
are 
HIGHLY ILLEGAL
for 
AMERICANS
EVEN if you're traveling in another country!!!

Now, I think this law is BEYOND ASININE
BUT - I'm going to give you the warning anyways (both to cover my tush for printing ANYTHING about Cuban Cigars [OHHH MY - SINFUL!!!])

THE U.S. LAW
Cuban Assets Control Regulations, 31 C.F.R. Part 515, (Revised September 30, 2004) are administered and enforced by the Office of Foreign Assets Control. Criminal penalties for violation of the Regulations can go as high as $1 million for corporations, and
$250,000 for individuals + up to 10 years in prison
In addition, 
Civil penalties of up to $65,000 per violation can be imposed by OFAC.


Here's a GOOD site for more details on it:
Cigars.about.com/od/cubantradeembargo/qt/0062002a.htm



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