Smoking bans at pubs, entertainment venues from February
Smoking bans at pubs, entertainment venues from February
BANGKOK:– Lighting up anywhere in air-conditioned entertainment establishments and parts of outdoor public venues, including the Chatuchak Weekend Market, will be banned as of February 17.
“For the open-air food courts or markets, smoking will be allowed only in designated corners,” Dr Hatai Chitanondh, chairman of the Thailand Health Promotion Institute, said yesterday.
Offenders will be fined Bt2,000 for smokers and Bt20,000 for operators.
Puffing on cigarettes and the like is already prohibited in air-conditioned restaurants but the Public Health Ministry’s regulation to include air-conditioned pubs, discos and bars will take effect 45 days after it is published in the Royal Gazette.
Hatai admitted that some owners of pubs and night-time hangouts might resist, as they believe a smoking ban will hurt their trade.
“But our research has found that the businesses might suffer some impacts only in the beginning. After a while, pubs and entertainment places will not only get their old customers back but will also attract new non-smoking patrons,” he said.
The no smoking rule will also be good for the health of customers and staff, he said, adding, “Music performances will be better because musical instruments won’t be exposed to the smoke.”
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Police ready to arrest breakers of smoking ban
Responding to the Public Health Ministry’s regulation to ban smoking in air-conditioned pubs, discos and clubs from February 11, Metropolitan Police Friday had all of Bangkok’s 88 police stations ready to arrest and fine any rule breakers.
City deputy police commissioner MajGeneral Suporn Phanseua said all officers were ready to reinforce the new rule by fining smokers Bt2,000 and venue operators Bt20,000.
Police will act upon public complaints or the Public Health Ministry’s request for inspection of entertainment establishments, rather than pressuring the establishments themselves, he said, adding that he believed all venues would give full cooperation.
Smoking is already prohibited in airconditioned restaurants but the ministry’s regulation to include airconditioned pubs, discos, bars and parts of outdoor public venues such as Chatuchak Weekend Market will take effect as of February 17.
However, those frequenting pubs, clubs and discos have objected to the ban, claiming they pay money to go out so they should be able to do as they please - including smoking cigarettes.
One 20-year-old man said he disagreed with the new rule because it limited people’s rights to entertain themselves when they actually pay money to be at a club or a bar. He said most people who drank also smoked, and pubs and clubs kept their business because of them.
“If you don’t want to get exposed to smoke, stay home or go somewhere else that is smokefree. Leave us partygoers to smoke as we please,” he said.
A 30-year-old office worker who frequents night venues said he did not smoke, and felt irritated by the cigarette smoke and that his clothes reeked after visiting pubs.
Some places do not have good ventilation systems and are so filled with smoke that he sometimes feels dizzy in them, he said.
Some partygoers, especially nonsmoking women, also spend money to go out but have to put their health at risk when visiting such venues, he said, adding that he welcomed the new rule.
Ban on Cell phone driving to take effect on May 8th
The Traffic Police Office has declared that the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) has passed the 8th draft of the land transport act which contains a regulation concerning the use of mobile communication devices while driving.
The law will ban the use of mobile phones while driving unless assisted by a hands free device and will take effect 90 days after its publishing in the Royal Gazette.
The law is set to go into full swing on May 8th and will entail a 400-1000 Baht fine for transgressors. Citizens who use their cell phones while driving will be subject to road blocks similar to those used in speed checks.
The law details that all mobile communication devices must not be held or touched during driving and must have hands free devices attached.
Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 14 February 2008