Governments must be able to show that they are doing everything that is reasonable to protect citizens from threats, but they must be candid in admitting that not all risks can be eliminated without doing more harm than good and eroding the very values they are seeking to defend.
Mexico's vice minister of the interior, Obdulio Avila, said authorities have been in touch with officials from PepsiCo and other companies about what they are doing to protect businesses.
"As a society we recognise that non-smokers need to be protected from carcinogens when at work but we are not doing enough to protect the most vulnerable non-smokers of all - children, " he said.