Thailand makes HUGE changes to its laws on smoking in public

[mommysboy]

Where there is puritanism, hypocrisy soon follows.

[mommysboy]

Perhaps much of the hysteria stems from a growing number of people suffering allergy/asthma type symptoms particularly in cities like Bangkok and Chiang Mai.  it's something I suffered from, still do when my city experiences elevated smog levels.  An unfortunate consequence is that one becomes overly sensitive to just about any airborne irritant.

 

I suppose the smog is invisible whilst the smoker isn't.  However, undoubtedly air pollution is the underlying problem, not the smoker passing by.

 

I note that one of the most vociferous proponents of ban smoking outside, happens to live in Chiang Mai. Need more be said...

[dick dasterdly]

2 hours ago, superal said:

Smoking bars & non smoking bars , is that beyond the wit of man ?

 

For sure there is a conflict of interest from the government i.e. If they were so concerned about public health there would be a total ban on smoking but if they chose to impose that they would be billions of Baht down on the loss of tobacco tax revenue .

  I do believe that the police will act on this new law when it is live because it will be easy pickings . No doubt there will be posters to inform the public ? however I can see many a tourist after having a few drinks , forgetting the restrictions & lighting up within the non smoking zone . This is going to annoy many Chinese tourists who are renown smokers just at the time when the Thai government are trying to win them back .

"Smoking bars & non smoking bars , is that beyond the wit of man ?"

 

Quite, this would be the easiest solution when it comes to bars and pubs - but the 'do as we tell you' govt. officials like to show their power/increase their fiefdom by enforcing their laws on everyone....

 

"For sure there is a conflict of interest from the government i.e. If they were so concerned about public health there would be a total ban on smoking but if they chose to impose that they would be billions of Baht down on the loss of tobacco tax revenue ."

 

Another accurate point that explains why smoking hasn't been banned.  Too much money involved for both the various govts., and extremely wealthy companies...

 

But we're deflecting from the topic at hand, which is the extremely ridiculous and pointless proposed new law.

 

As pointed out by another poster, you can pretty much guarantee that zero Thais will pay any attention to this possible law or, if it comes into force, be fined - only tourists and possibly 'expats'.....

[ukrules]

4 hours ago, alex8912 said:

Indoor areas not in whore bars and not in Pattaya?  Not many at all 

They all smoke wherever I go, sure I'm not in Pattaya and most of the places are indoors.

 

It's funny as the europeans now appear to be conditioned to go outside and smoke, even when the owners are handing out ash trays inside and other people are sitting there smoking.

[HooHaa]

On 11/7/2018 at 5:49 PM, car720 said:

has anyone linked the coincidence of this to the fact that they are just about to legalize grass?

Pray tell me how these are linked. 

[sambum]

1 minute ago, HooHaa said:

Pray tell me how these are linked. 

You won't be able to get stoned in public places!

[sirineou]

9 hours ago, hobz said:

I see your points, can't have laws like that. But in reality this is how most smokers do it, they walk away from people, and if people come they put it out or they walk further away. At least that's how I did it when I used to smoke, and i've seen other operate in the same fashion. It's a matter of showing respect and consideration, something that most people have naturally, but for some people it needs to be enforced with laws. Since laws are not as flexible they tend to hit both good and bad.  

 

 

I understand your attitude  and appreciate your consideration, but you and me both know that not all are as considered, Unfortunately some people have to be forced to do the right thing.

[metisdead]

Off topic trolling posts and the replies have been removed. 

[alex8912]

3 hours ago, ukrules said:

They all smoke wherever I go, sure I'm not in Pattaya and most of the places are indoors.

 

It's funny as the europeans now appear to be conditioned to go outside and smoke, even when the owners are handing out ash trays inside and other people are sitting there smoking.

I’m in Bangkok and it’s extremely rare indoors as it should be. I can’t think of any hotels or places on Silom or Suk that allow it. I’m not really in small hole in the wall places ever. 

[mommysboy]

56 minutes ago, alex8912 said:

I’m in Bangkok and it’s extremely rare indoors as it should be. I can’t think of any hotels or places on Silom or Suk that allow it. I’m not really in small hole in the wall places ever. 

And it would be the same if you went to a shopping Mall, supermarket, coffee shop, museum, cinema, sports centre, university,and I think some parks too.  I don't recall for that matter I saw any intrusive smokers in Khao San Rd.

 

Which leads one to question the nature of the places where others are experiencing difficulties.???? 

[the guest]

If they wanted to be really serious about smoking, there would be a total ban and the withdrawal of cigarettes on the shelves. 

 

Again, as we have seen so many times in Thailand, just smoke and mirrors!

[hobz]

8 hours ago, mommysboy said:

We live in different locations. You are describing a place and occurrence that I simply never see even though I live in a Thai city.

 

Remember we're talking outside here. 

 

If the bar is so high, the same argument of nuisance could be applied to any number of activities that some may regard as annoying.

 

You appear to be saying smokers are congregating outside of shopping malls- in all my years in Bangkok I never saw that.  Then at markets, but I was in JJ market a year back and have to take special safety note because I have a young child, yet I don't recall seeing a smoker- perhaps there were by the toilets but I can't say for sure. Out on the street, hardly worth noting.

 

Meanwhile cars pass on mass.

 

So let's take a real life example, Bill absent-mindedly strolls in to his ground floor car park with lighted cig. in hand. He is reminded, or comes to his senses, walks back and stubs it out.  No harm done- what's the big deal?  Meanwhile, of course, Bob, a resident, might come down to the car park and start his car, which pumps out exhaust fumes far above the scale of Bill's indiscretions . Can you see what I'm saying?

 

Bill understands, it's life,  but Bob isn't so philisophical, and rails at Bill for being so inconsiderate.

See your points. 

Car exhaust sucks but is tolerated for now... Because cars gives us so much.

 

Other annoying stuff being illegal? yes, there are for example noise regulations (also unenforced).

 

I see your points, one smoker smoking anywhere outside will not bother almost anyone except someone that is allergic to smoke. 

 

But a group of 4-5 smokers and it's a whole other level immediately.

 

These laws (if enforced) will hopefully only be used when they are actually needed.

 

[direction BANGKOK]

I think governments should give smokers a challenge. If cigarette butts are cut by some percentage every year as collected litter, then the smoking in public bans remain more relaxed. 

 

If the litter continues near the same rates, smoking is banned eveywhere in public. What this does is it would temper any arguments about the bans if they could not make the cut. 

 

I think it is win win. If smokers actually do what they should be doing and taking care of their own responsibility, they will get what they want. So will others to some extent, butts being gone would be great for eveyone. If smokers don't make their litter quota, they only have theirselves to blame and everyone wins. 

Edited November 8, 2018 by direction BANGKOK

[adammike]

2 hours ago, hobz said:

See your points. 

Car exhaust sucks but is tolerated for now... Because cars gives us so much.

 

Other annoying stuff being illegal? yes, there are for example noise regulations (also unenforced).

 

I see your points, one smoker smoking anywhere outside will not bother almost anyone except someone that is allergic to smoke. 

 

But a group of 4-5 smokers and it's a whole other level immediately.

 

These laws (if enforced) will hopefully only be used when they are actually needed.

 

When the smoking war is finally won then they will come for the motorists,they have started on the wood burning stoves in cities and the fireworks are getting on everyone's nerves they are on their way out.It will be great and as a bonus it will give me a laugh when all the gammons appear on question time.

[spidermike007]

While I think any laws protecting the public from noxious second hand smoke are good, they have to be enforceable. In Samui though it is technically illegal to smoke in restaurants, everyone smokes anywhere they want. Will the RCD (revenue collection dept. aka RTP) do any enforcement? Not exactly their specialty. 

[webfact]

UPDATE

 

New guidelines prevent smoking within five meters of a no smoking sign

 

 

BANGKOK, 9th November 2018 (NNT) – A new declaration has mandated that those found smoking within five meters of a no smoking sign will now be subject to at least a 5,000 baht fine. 

 

Full story: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1067356-new-guidelines-prevent-smoking-within-five-meters-of-a-no-smoking-sign/

[JonnyF]

I think this would be a good thing if enforced. I used to enjoy sitting in the outdoor section of pubs to get some atmosphere, people watch, have a chat etc. I prefer it to the echoing noise, TV's and freezing air con inside.

 

Now however, it is basically a smoking section. Either the smokers sit out there and puff away, or patrons from inside come out every 5 minutes to furiously puff away before going back into the air con stinking of smoke so I end up going inside.

 

I used to smoke and was always pretty considerate of non-smokers but unfortunately a lot of smokers don't give a toss if your meal has just arrived, they'll sit/stand a metre away and spark up - not even making an attempt to blow smoke the other direction. So feckem they can go down the street as far as I'm concerned. 

 

 

[hobz]

5 hours ago, adammike said:

When the smoking war is finally won then they will come for the motorists,they have started on the wood burning stoves in cities and the fireworks are getting on everyone's nerves they are on their way out.It will be great and as a bonus it will give me a laugh when all the gammons appear on question time.

Yeah, once EVs are equal or better than gasoline cars in every way there's no excuse to not heavily tax gasoline cars. I don't think they will be forbidden soon. Just heavily taxed.

[attrayant]

For those saying this is unenforceable:  Thanks to a long history of passive-aggressive management style, Thai's dutifully obey signage as long as it's not a speed limit sign.  I've had people stop me from carrying food out of cafeterias because there was a sign posted (in Thai) saying "no eating out side of the cafeteria".  

 

If you see any Thai smoking in a non-smoking area, just look at the no-smoking sign and then frown (not too harshly though!) at the smoker. They will feel a haunting shame that will stay with them for weeks.

[mommysboy]

8 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

While I think any laws protecting the public from noxious second hand smoke are good, they have to be enforceable. In Samui though it is technically illegal to smoke in restaurants, everyone smokes anywhere they want. Will the RCD (revenue collection dept. aka RTP) do any enforcement? Not exactly their specialty. 

 'everyone smokes anywhere they want.'

 

Oh really.  

 

Regardless, if the latest news reports about legalising e-cigarettes in Thailand proves true, then we have a sustainable solution.  Smokers can then have no complaint, and the complainers can shut up going on about what amounts to a largely non existent and petty social annoyance.

[mauGR1]

19 minutes ago, mommysboy said:

 'everyone smokes anywhere they want.'

 

Oh really.  

 

Regardless, if the latest news reports about legalising e-cigarettes in Thailand proves true, then we have a sustainable solution.  Smokers can then have no complaint, and the complainers can shut up going on about what amounts to a largely non existent and petty social annoyance.

They are complaining already about e-cigarettes, nowadays smokers are the village idiots of the PC brigade, next they'll blame wars and global warming on us, while happily swallowing pesticides and breathing exhaust fumes

[JimmyJ]

2 hours ago, mauGR1 said:

They are complaining already about e-cigarettes, nowadays smokers are the village idiots of the PC brigade, next they'll blame wars and global warming on us, while happily swallowing pesticides and breathing exhaust fumes

 

Well, you managed to get some of that correct:

 

"...nowadays smokers are the village idiots..."

[DrTuner]

2 hours ago, mauGR1 said:

They are complaining already about e-cigarettes, nowadays smokers are the village idiots of the PC brigade, next they'll blame wars and global warming on us, while happily swallowing pesticides and breathing exhaust fumes

These are the people who hate the fact they can't control others. Usually end up as bureaucrats in Nakhon Nowhere where they torture the poor individuals that step in. In the good old times, as they say in Finland, they would've been taken behind the sauna.

[sambum]

9 hours ago, JonnyF said:

I think this would be a good thing if enforced. I used to enjoy sitting in the outdoor section of pubs to get some atmosphere, people watch, have a chat etc. I prefer it to the echoing noise, TV's and freezing air con inside.

 

Now however, it is basically a smoking section. Either the smokers sit out there and puff away, or patrons from inside come out every 5 minutes to furiously puff away before going back into the air con stinking of smoke so I end up going inside.

 

I used to smoke and was always pretty considerate of non-smokers but unfortunately a lot of smokers don't give a toss if your meal has just arrived, they'll sit/stand a metre away and spark up - not even making an attempt to blow smoke the other direction. So feckem they can go down the street as far as I'm concerned. 

 

 

"unfortunately a lot of smokers don't give a toss if your meal has just arrived, they'll sit/stand a metre away and spark up"

 

I'm an ex smoker too, and I find that the smokers you describe above are a rarity. In the UK it wouldn't be allowed in a restaurant anyway, and here it seem to be accepted that if it's an outside restaurant (beach etc) then it's OK - which I agree with as the smoke soon dissipates. Smoking in an indoor restaurant is frowned upon, except at the end of the night when everyone has stopped eating.

[KhaoYai]

The beginning of the end for (non girlie) bar businesses in Thailand (if its ever implemented and enforced).  Along with other changes to lifestyle that have reduced customer numbers - such businesses are likely to begin the slow downhill slide that has happened in the UK - thousands of pubs have closed.

 

I smoke and support the ban on smoking inside pubs - believe it or not, when I don't have a cig in my mouth I actually like clean air. But taking things this far? Its getting ridiculous and is purely driven by people who's sole goal in life is to ban smoking.  Do you think they actually care about your health?  Once they've achieved their goal they'll move on to drinking - just as they have in the UK.

 

Before you know it we'll all be T Total, attending church on Sundays, greasing our hair back and wearing ties ????.

 

What I find amazing about these ongoing anti-smoking laws is the setting in which they take place.  Modified pick up trucks thunder around, billowing hideous amounts of black diesel smoke out.  Commercial vehicles likewise, yet neither are subject to any form of yearly emmisions test.  General traffic pollutes the air badly in Thailand's major cities and a yellow pollution cloud is often seen over Bangkok - again nothing done. Thousands of street vendors cook food over smokey open barbeques every day. Do the powers that be think that only cigarette smoke is harmful?

 

I won't be buying shares in bars and pubs but I'd consider buying shares in businesses that sell alcohol for home consumption.

 

 

Edited November 9, 2018 by KhaoYai

[bristolgeoff]

will they stop selling cigs in 7/11 or anywhere else i think not.somehow i think it will never work just like closing bars on certain days in the LOS.never going to happen and you will find  a bar open on those days outside a tourist area for sure.

[Shiver]

On 11/6/2018 at 4:28 PM, HappyAndRich said:

That a very good step to promote public health and to get rid of all the bad smelling spews of all smokers.
If you want to smoke, get away from people and show some dignity and respect for other that don´t want your tobacco smoke in their lungs.

 

Same like a factory can´t dump their shit anywhere, due to that it´s bad for nature. You smokers can´t dump your dangerous smoke into other peoples lives and surroundings.

Thank You!

Fair comment, but what about city smog?  I'd rather choke down several packs of cigarettes than ride my push bike behind the trucks and busses taking just one breath until I can get past them.

[ice4351]

Smokers are the most rude disrespectful people on the planet.  Why should non smokers have to breath your toxic smoke.  You blow smoke in the faces of others and then throw cigarette butts on the ground and into the sewers.  Have you ever noticed all the cigarette butts on the ground in Pattaya that have to be cleaned up by others.  It is a totally disgusting useless habit.  Props to the Lion Pub for actually enforcing the law and banning smoking.  Other places need to do the same!  Other countries around the world have banned smoking years ago--Thailand is just catching up.   

[Nielsk]

12 minutes ago, ice4351 said:

Smokers are the most rude disrespectful people on the planet.  Why should non smokers have to breath your toxic smoke.  You blow smoke in the faces of others and then throw cigarette butts on the ground and into the sewers.  Have you ever noticed all the cigarette butts on the ground in Pattaya that have to be cleaned up by others.  It is a totally disgusting useless habit.  Props to the Lion Pub for actually enforcing the law and banning smoking.  Other places need to do the same!  Other countries around the world have banned smoking years ago--Thailand is just catching up.   

I do say You are generalizing.  Absolutely not my experience. Who do You think You are. Smoking outside does not affect You.  Seems like You deliberately put the nose into the smoke. Just stop that and get on with your miserable life  !

[sambum]

6 hours ago, ice4351 said:

Smokers are the most rude disrespectful people on the planet.  Why should non smokers have to breath your toxic smoke.  You blow smoke in the faces of others and then throw cigarette butts on the ground and into the sewers.  Have you ever noticed all the cigarette butts on the ground in Pattaya that have to be cleaned up by others.  It is a totally disgusting useless habit.  Props to the Lion Pub for actually enforcing the law and banning smoking.  Other places need to do the same!  Other countries around the world have banned smoking years ago--Thailand is just catching up.   

"Smokers are the most rude disrespectful people on the planet." 

 

A tad exaggerated methinks - I thought the "Cheap Charlie Chinese" had cornered the market on that one!