Thailand to Toughen Anti-Smoking Rules

[Gaybutton]

The following appears in THE NATION:

_____________

 

Smokers to Face Tougher Restrictions and Fines

 

Published on September 2, 2006

 

Finding a place to light up a cigarette is going to become much more difficult when the Public Health Ministry's tougher anti-smoking regulations take effect in November.

 

The regulations are going to turn most public areas into no-smoking zones, while attractive descriptions such as "Mild" and "Light" will be removed from cigarette packets and the harmful and carcinogenic components of smoke will be displayed.

 

The regulations will also introduce more pictorial warnings about smoking on the packets.

 

The ban on smoking in most public areas will become effective in November, while other regulations will come into force next February.

 

Caretaker Public Health Minister Pinij Charusombat said he had signed for the amendment to regulations on August 24. However, the regulations will have to be announced in the Royal Gazette for a certain period of time before they can come into force.

 

"If you defy the smoking ban, you face a fine," Pinij added. An offence by a smoker will be punishable by a fine of up to Bt2,000, while the offending property owner will face a fine of up to Bt20,000.

 

Pinij said the regulations were aimed to protect Thais from smoking dangers.

 

According to him, six Thais die of smoking-related diseases every hour, which equates to about 52,000 deaths a year. Smoking-related diseases - heart diseases, lung cancer and bronchitis - cost the country more than Bt50 billion in healthcare services.

 

After the new regulations take effect, most public places will become no-smoking zones. This includes stadiums, bus stops, buses, children's playgrounds, public parks, sport facilities and public telephone booths.

 

Currently, no-smoking areas are mostly restricted to air-conditioned zones.

 

Pinij yesterday said the words "Mild" and "Light" would be removed from cigarette packets because they could mislead buyers into believing that the danger of smoking was not serious.

 

This regulation looks set to seriously affect one cigarette brand, "Mild Seven Light". In 2004, the Council of State said this was a trade name and should be allowed to remain. But the latest move by the Public Health Ministry may remove the immunity.

 

Pinij did not mention the trade name yesterday.

 

However, he added that cigarette packets would be required to display the harmful and carcinogenic cigarette-smoke components such as tar, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide.

 

He said pictorial warnings on packets would also have more designs. All warnings will feature the adverse effects of smoking.

 

Duangkamon Sajirawattanakul

 

The Nation

[Guest wowpow]

Isn't it great when lawmakers get something right. God bless the Minister.

 

Imagine it - do-do bars where neither the customers or staff can smoke - bliss!

 

Does anyone have the Health Ministry address so I can write and expose anyone contravening the law - should they not wish to cross my palm with gold!

[Guest catawampuscat]

sounds too good to be true...let's hope it is not a pipe dream..

[Guest PapaDavid]

 

After the new regulations take effect, most public places will become no-smoking zones. This includes stadiums, bus stops, buses, children's playgrounds, public parks, sport facilities and public telephone booths.

 

Currently, no-smoking areas are mostly restricted to air-conditioned zones.

 

 

Well done the Minister!! A Thai Government department is doing something useful for a change.

 

Let us hope that the new regulations will be enforced rigorously. Although it has to be said that the scope and variety of the banned areas provides ample opportunity for the boys in brown to have a field day in their quest for tea money!

 

Await the day when smoking will be confined by law to the smoker's own home and no-where else.

[Guest namjai]

As a smoker is trying to quit I hope that this does go thru...but, PapaDavid, "Let us hope that the new regulations will be enforced rigorously."...that will be fun to see!

[Guest sydneyboy]

Blessed relief! I agree with all the other contributors lets hope the promise comes to fruition. My 2 favourite holiday destinations are Thailand and Brazil and I wish Brazil would follow Thailand's lead. Smoking in Brazil is revolting and reminds me Australia in the 1950's. I dined many times in the best retaurant in Sao Paulo and their idea of a "non smoking section" was simply to remove the ash tray from your table! This is typical.

[Guest A Rose By Any Other Name]

This is such good news. Let's hope it will eventually encourage new generations not to smoke. Thailand is so far behind many other countries in educating youngsters regarding the perils of cig. smoking.

 

 

The Rose

TR