No you cannot smoke cigarettes in Restaurants

Restaurants & Pricing
1

No — it is generally NOT legal to smoke cigarettes at a restaurant in Jalisco (or anywhere in Mexico) anymore.

:mexico: Current Mexican law (since 2023)

Mexico passed very strict anti-smoking regulations under the General Law for Tobacco Control, which took effect in January 2023. The law bans smoking in almost all public places, including:

  • Restaurants

  • Bars

  • Hotels

  • Beaches

  • Parks

  • Shopping centers

  • Workplaces

  • Public transport

  • Many outdoor dining areas and patios

Even outdoor restaurant terraces or patios where people are eating are generally smoke-free now.

Where smoking IS allowed

Smoking is only allowed in designated smoking areas, which must usually be:

  • Completely separate from dining areas

  • In open air

  • Not near entrances or where people are eating

Enforcement reality

Especially around Ajijic, Chapala, and Guadalajara, you may still see people smoking at restaurant tables sometimes, but that doesn’t mean it’s legal. Enforcement varies.

Possible penalties

  • Individuals can be fined

  • Restaurants can be fined or sanctioned if they allow it

:white_check_mark: Simple rule:

You cannot smoke at the table or patio of a restaurant.

You usually must walk to a designated smoking area away from diners.