Travel to Mexico City / Smoking Laws

[mah2325]

I'm going to Mexico City for work in a few weeks, I did some research about traveling with pipes, tobacco and everything seems pretty easy and straight forward. But when I was checking on smoking areas at the Hotel, it seems in 2023 Mexico passed some pretty strict antismoking laws. Have any of you traveled to Mexico? Curious how hard it will be to find a smoking spot at the hotel.

 

[BrightDarkEyes]

If you own a private residence in Mexico City, that would be your only place to legally smoke. If a hotel provides a designated smoking area, it is still illegal under their law as far as I know.

 

[mah2325]

If you own a private residence in Mexico City, that would be your only place to legally smoke. If a hotel provides a designated smoking area, it is still illegal under their law as far as I know.

That is crazy town.. Looks like a few days away from the pipe it is

 

[shanez]

There's legal and then there's done anyway.

You won't see smoking in public or very rarely if you do.

There's still legal places you can smoke but you really have to search for them. Many places don't offer smoking areas even though they could.

Your best bet is to seek out a cigar bar/lounge. It's usually legal and allowable to smoke but they do tend to fracture the law by serving drinks. (The whole drink thing is a legal grey area in my limited knowledge.) These lounges tend to be upscale on the inside when compared to places that simply sell tobacco. They also tend to not sell cigarettes but focus mainly on cigars with rare places offering pipe tobacco.

The lounges, whether technically legal or not, tend to not get bothered and I've never experienced a problem or heard of anyone who has. Smoking while walking down the sidewalk in a busy tourist area, on the other hand, will definitely get you in trouble.

What area are you staying in?

 

[mah2325]

There's legal and then there's done anyway.

You won't see smoking in public or very rarely if you do.

There's still legal places you can smoke but you really have to search for them. Many places don't offer smoking areas even though they could.

Your best bet is to seek out a cigar bar/lounge. It's usually legal and allowable to smoke but they do tend to fracture the law by serving drinks. (The whole drink thing is a legal grey area in my limited knowledge.) These lounges tend to be upscale on the inside when compared to places that simply sell tobacco. They also tend to not sell cigarettes but focus mainly on cigars with rare places offering pipe tobacco.

The lounges, whether technically legal or not, tend to not get bothered and I've never experienced a problem or heard of anyone who has. Smoking while walking down the sidewalk in a busy tourist area, on the other hand, will definitely get you in trouble.

What area are you staying in?

Thanks, I'll see what is nearby. But honestly most nights after work I struggle to get out and do much at all . If I can't just walk out near the hotel, I'll probably live without. (I'll still pack it just in case)

I'm staying at the Crowne Plaza Mexico Norte Tlalnepantla near the Plaza Tlalne Mall.

 

[shanez]

If you've never been, be aware that Mexico City is generally not a place to be walking around much after dark. It's nowhere near as bad as some people would have you believe and I've not had any problems (I've been in some slightly sketchy places) but it's considered best to just get where you're going and be inside.

 

[mah2325]

If you've never been, be aware that Mexico City is generally not a place to be walking around much after dark. It's nowhere near as bad as some people would have you believe and I've not had any problems (I've been in some slightly sketchy places) but it's considered best to just get where you're going and be inside.

I have been a few times; but this will be my first trip as a pipe smoker. Agree I have always felt very safe when there but also agree with your safety precautions 100%.

 

[elvishrunes]

Mexico tends to be decades behind the West enforcing these types of laws…. In 2000 I lived in Baja California and it was legal to drink and drive, they just said don’t drink too much, whatever that means.

Returning home towards the California border I had a beer in the car to say I did, and ironically enough got pulled over. Cop looks at me, my beer in the cup holder and says your seatbelt isn’t on, no fine of course. Probably some US and Canadian small towns this could happen today, if you know the cop.

Point being if you’re not annoying anyone, I don’t think it would be a problem.

i just read Shanez‘ post after writing here, i guess he knows. But I bet if you find a quiet place it would be fine.

 

[mah2325]

Mexico tends to be decades behind the West enforcing these types of laws…. In 2000 I lived in Baja California and it was legal to drink and drive, they just said don’t drink too much, whatever that means.

Returning home towards the California border I had a beer in the car to say I did, and ironically enough got pulled over. Cop looks at me, my beer in the cup holder and says your seatbelt isn’t on, no fine of course. Probably some US and Canadian small towns this could happen today, if you know the cop.

Point being if you’re not annoying anyone, I don’t think it would be a problem.

i just read Shanez‘ post after writing here, i guess he knows. But I bet if you find a quiet place it would be fine.

Thanks for the advice, I plan on bringing a pipe or two. I’ll see how it goes

 

[ZenPipe]

Glad I found this thread. I’m vacationing in and around Cancun soon and was planning on bringing my pipe and some tobacco. Seems like along as you bring in under a certain amount of tobacco all is well. But I’m thinking I’m gonna have to take a Long walk or bike ride to find a place to smoke….

 

[tmc]

I don’t know about Mexico City, but I travel frequently to Saltillo and I’ve never seen public smoking laws enforced. Many of the restaurants have smoking sections and it is not uncommon to people smoking in public. I always travel with a pipe and have a few bowls in the evenings.

 

[Dreadlock Holmes]

Mexico tends to be decades behind the West enforcing these types of laws…. In 2000 I lived in Baja California and it was legal to drink and drive, they just said don’t drink too much, whatever that means.

Returning home towards the California border I had a beer in the car to say I did, and ironically enough got pulled over. Cop looks at me, my beer in the cup holder and says your seatbelt isn’t on, no fine of course. Probably some US and Canadian small towns this could happen today, if you know the cop.

Point being if you’re not annoying anyone, I don’t think it would be a problem.

i just read Shanez‘ post after writing here, i guess he knows. But I bet if you find a quiet place it would be fine.

I can't imagine getting away cleanly with that.

 

[ron123]

in 2023 Mexico passed some pretty strict antismoking laws.

I had no idea and we just booked a trip to Cabo. It looks like it's no joke, either as they like to enforce it with fines. Cartels? No Problema. Smoking? Pay up sucker.

 

[elvishrunes]

I had no idea and we just booked a trip to Cabo. It looks like it's no joke, either as they like to enforce it with fines. Cartels? No Problema. Smoking? Pay up sucker.

Well that’s the other side of Mexico, they use laws to shakedown tourists for money…. Especially in resort towns. But from my friend who refused to pay, nothing happened, they let him go. Not sure I’d have the guts, but who knows.

And police do it too, not just cartels.

 

[shanez]

if you find a quiet place it would be fine.

This.

I've never had a problem with cigars/pipes in Cancun/Playa del Carmen/Tulum/Cozumel/Puerto Vallarta/Sayulita/Tijuana. Mexico City is slightly different but even there if you are minding your own business at a respectful distance from others you'll likely not have any issues.

 

[JBob]

Glad I found this thread. I’m vacationing in and around Cancun soon and was planning on bringing my pipe and some tobacco. Seems like along as you bring in under a certain amount of tobacco all is well. But I’m thinking I’m gonna have to take a Long walk or bike ride to find a place to smoke….

200 grams or less

 

[Kollman]

I have been going to MX for 30+ years and never found any issues with common sense smoking in public, and would enjoy a pipe or cigar on a park bench, ask at restaurants and hotels, and pretty much any bar was good to go. Most locals are interested in pipes, as they rarely see them, and they smell so much better than cigarettes and cigars to non-smokers. Read the room and you should be okay. :D

 

[mah2325]

Found a nice quiet spot at the Hotel , no problems so far

 

[ZenPipe]

Found a nice quiet spot at the Hotel , no problems so far
View attachment 420955

Love to see it, enjoy!