Mexico's senate approved a law that requires restaurants and bars to set up non-smoking areas and limits advertising by tobacco companies.

Under the measure, businesses must obtain a licence to sell tobacco and all enclosed public places have 180 days to create non-smoking sections. The law also prohibits tobacco companies from sponsoring sporting events and will only allow advertisings in areas where children cannot see them, such as in bars. Fines for selling cigarettes to individuals under 18 will be increased as well.
Machines that dispense cigarettes will also be banned. In addition, the law will require tobacco companies to reveal their advertising spending to the government.
The bill's general outline was approved by a margin of 101 to 5, though lawmakers may make changes. The lower house of congress had already passed the measure. Mexico currently has about 13 million smokers. (pi)