Prisons to ban sale of tobacco products and cigarettes

By THE NATION

 

File photo// The Nation Photo

 

A NEW REGULATION will ban the sale of cigarettes and tobacco at all prisons across the country to reduce the number of inmates falling sick or dying from respiratory diseases, Corrections Department director-general |Pol Colonel Narat Savettanan said.

 

Narat said the regulation banning the sale of cigarettes and tobacco, which will be implemented at a later unspecified date, was required because prisons were regarded as state facilities and hence came within the ambit of the smoking ban. Once sent to jail, an inmate can use this as an opportunity to quit smoking and do other useful activities such as disciplinary training, vocational skill training or practising meditation, he said.

 

 

The plan follows the successful pilot project that banned the sale of such products at 13 prisons: Amnat Charoen, Chon Buri, Chanthaburi, Thanyaburi, Pathum Thani Provincial Special Offenders Institution, Thonburi Women’s Correctional Institution, Sikhiu, Pathum Thani Correctional Institution for Young Offenders, Women’s Correctional Institution for Drug Addicted Prisoners, Songkhla Female Prison, Phitsanulok Female Prison, Chiang Rai and Maha Sarakham. 

 

Narat said the ban had led to fewer inmates suffering from respiratory diseases and the eradication of a factor that was a threat to inmates already suffering from chronic illness such as high-blood pressure, and stroke, which could be worsened by being in a smoke-filled environment.

 

Prisons nationwide were said to have a higher ratio of smokers compared to other sites and secondhand smoke also posed harm to the health of non-smoking inmates and wardens. 

 

He said prisons had since 2008 arranged cells as no-smoking zones and set up smoking areas outside the building.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30357934

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-11-06

I think this is a good policy; the health benefits are self-evident and don't really need to be argued. 

 

The other reason I think this is good is financial. Those who spend time in Thailand know that it is generally the poor that go to prison; somehow the wealthy seem to avoid it (not just in Thailand, but...). The economic toll on the prisoners and their families to smoke is, I am sure, a steep cost and there is NO return for the funds spent. As a matter of economics, I support the ban on prisoners' smoking, and hope what ever cash is saved goes to their families, especially to any children involved.

 

I would also make selling cigarettes by the GUARDS a fireable offence; you know the guards will be opening side businesses, if they don't already have one. Yes, I know, but...

 

 

24 minutes ago, webfact said:

Prisons nationwide were said to have a higher ratio of smokers compared to other sites 

I'll bet they have .. 

Now all smokers will have to change from tobacco to other substances that are not banned. Problem solved.

Just nasty of them.

Let them smoke, what else they got left !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

 

That will be a problem not having cigarettes to exchange for sex... will a chocolate bar will do the work?...

Now i am really scared to end up in a thai prison!

22 minutes ago, ezzra said:

That will be a problem not having cigarettes to exchange for sex... will a chocolate bar will do the work?...

I'm sure the Hershey highway will still be open !!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Edited November 5, 20187 yr by stanleycoin

3 hours ago, webfact said:

A NEW REGULATION will ban the sale of cigarettes and tobacco at all prisons across the country to reduce the number of inmates falling sick or dying from respiratory diseases,

Fairly sure that if there weren't 100+ prisoners cramped into one 'big' room where you don't have enough space to move when trying to sleep and 'decent' food would help more than banning cigs. Also fairly sure that the screws are going to profit from this.????

Edited November 6, 20187 yr by dinsdale

gonna see many richer prison guards and directors I guess,

prohibition of goods is always good for the convict class

 

just more dumbness in thailand, probably another thing from that <deleted> headed dictator

Underground sale of tobacco will be booming. Big money windfall for some people.

4 hours ago, webfact said:

will be implemented at a later unspecified date,

In the year 2080.  Big Tobacco Monopoly will not allow it.

 

Banned substances have always been available to inmates at a considerable markup…this probably won’t change much. More significant is how this will disrupt the prison economic system which largely uses cigarettes as a medium of exchange. But, as always, corruption will no doubt find a way.

 

39 minutes ago, Hayduke said:

More significant is how this will disrupt the prison economic system which largely uses cigarettes as a medium of exchange.

Cigarettes are used as money in Thai prisons and I predict the value will skyrocket in the very near future! 

3 hours ago, stanleycoin said:

Just nasty of them.

Let them smoke, what else they got left !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

 

Agree ? maybe smoking area away from those who dont smoke , For me its creating a black market contraband politician law makers are pushing them into a riot situation !!!! cant do this ! cant do that ! nanny state coup leader law makers no smoking on Buddha day ur locked up ! crikey what absolute s- - - e

3 hours ago, stanleycoin said:

I'm sure the Hershey highway will still be open !!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

They use that anyway,,,,even to smuggle stuff ,,,, ????

4 hours ago, stanleycoin said:

Just nasty of them.

Let them smoke, what else they got left !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

 

Given the recreational alternatives, smoking backy would have great appeal to me. 

I think they will kick off if they cannot get their smokes,

maybe some will be able to get medical marijuana ! 

regards Worgeordie

Thsi will lead to big trouble in prisons.

5 hours ago, Thailand said:

Underground sale of tobacco will be booming. Big money windfall for some people.

---

 

“If Churchill was around today, imagine how good his tweets would have been.”

 

We will fight them on the beaches.

They can't stop drugs or mobile phones from getting in, how will they stop cigarettes??  It will just lead to a price increase.

 

What is a prison guard going to say to somebody doing 25 years to life who he tells to stop smoking and he refuses?

 

Ill thought out nonsense. I wonder which genius in the correctional department thought this unworkable gem up?

 

They certainly do not care about prisoners welfare or they would have improved their human rights records, on major issues as, overcrowding, chronic shortages of medical facilities and drugs, medical health for the mentally impaired, and sleeping arrangements a long time ago. Prisoners in many prisons don't have access to clean water and the food that is given to them is very poor in nutrition.

 

The Thai correctional facilities in Thailand are run much the same way as everything else, they are opportunities for money-making schemes.

Edited November 6, 20187 yr by Scouse123

5 hours ago, Thingamabob said:

Thsi will lead to big trouble in prisons.

Yes, there will be riots, deaths and mass breakouts.

Just what you want a prison full of men clucking for a cigarette that will clam the place down I would assume

Edited November 6, 20187 yr by Dave67