Pictures courtesy of the Pattaya News

 

Pattaya City has been named one of five Thai local government organisations shortlisted for the 2026 ASEAN Smoke-Free Award, recognising its achievements in tobacco control and public health promotion. On November 7, Deputy Mayor Wuttisak Rermkijakarn led a team to present the city’s progress in creating a smoke-free environment under the ‘Outstanding Smoke-Free Local Government Organisation (Cigarettes and E-Cigarettes)’ initiative.

 

The presentation took place in Meeting Room 132 at Pattaya City Hall and was conducted as part of the award’s evaluation process organised by the ASEAN Secretariat. Senior city officials, including the City Clerk, Deputy City Clerk and directors of the Public Health and Environment Office and the Disease Control Division, attended the session. The evaluation was held online via Zoom, with representatives from the Action on Smoking and Health Foundation (ASH Thailand), the Tobacco Control Human Resource Development Centre, the National Tobacco Control Committee under the Department of Disease Control, the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Interior participating in the review from the Asawin Grand Convention Hotel.

 

The ASH Foundation, working with the Department of Disease Control, selected five organisations for final consideration. Alongside Pattaya City in Chon Buri Province, the other finalists are Maha Sarakham Municipality in Maha Sarakham Province, Sateng Nok Municipality in Yala Province, Kut Khon Subdistrict Administrative Organisation in Kalasin Province and Non Kok Subdistrict Administrative Organisation in Chaiyaphum Province.

 

Deputy Mayor Wuttisak highlighted that Pattaya, as an international tourism hub, is committed to maintaining a clean and healthy environment for residents and visitors. The city’s vision is to position itself as a ‘health and wellness tourism hub,’ addressing tobacco use as a major public health and environmental issue. Measures include restrictions on cigarette and e-cigarette sales, public awareness campaigns, youth education programmes and smoking prevention initiatives. Pattaya also partners with local police and the Banglamung District Office for continuous enforcement and monitoring.

 

Under the city’s ‘BETTER PATTAYA: HAPPY CITY’ policy, Pattaya aims to create livable, healthy communities with sustainable environmental standards. The evaluation committee commended the city’s integrated approach, noting its relevance to Pattaya’s tourism-driven character and its value as a model for sustainable smoke-free urban development.

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Pattaya City has been shortlisted for the 2026 ASEAN Smoke-Free Award for its strong anti-smoking initiatives.

• The city’s efforts focus on education, enforcement, and reducing tobacco use among youth.

• The evaluation committee praised Pattaya’s sustainable and tourism-aligned public health strategies.

 

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  Adapted  by  Asean  Now from TheThaiger 2025-11-10

 

 

 

 

"Pattaya Competes for 2026 ASEAN Smoke-Free Award"

 

LOL, it's way past April Fools day ........

Yet more evidence of empty heads running the show.

3 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

The city’s vision is to position itself as a ‘health and wellness tourism hub,’ addressing tobacco use as a major public health and environmental issue. Measures include restrictions on cigarette and e-cigarette sales, public awareness campaigns, youth education programmes and smoking prevention initiatives.

Plenty of opportunies to improve one's heath and wellness in Pattaya via stress release. As for restrictions on vapes as far as I know vapes and vaping is still illegal.

That's what all the laughing gas is for 

No mention of cannabis, so it must not pollute the air as some think.

Obviously no crop burning in that vicinity.

This thread comes just under the news of a burning condo where the whole building was smoke damaged.  I leave the safety of my house maybe five times a week.  On every occasion I see or smell burning.  

The above committee have a highly developed sense of irony.

Some work would need to be done on he prerequisites for not smoking.

The prime indicator for starting to smoke is

"peer influence/pressure. The overwhelming majority of adult smokers begin smoking before age 18, and a primary reason is the influence of friends or the desire to fit in with a social group."

And how about a father, and if so,  then a non-smoking father....

Higher education...

Strangely, when I visit Bangkok hospital, no ashtrays outside the building. And take a walk outside and in the surrounding streets, no smokers visible, no cigarette butts anywhere. Educated people work at these hospitals. But even more strange is that I never see a smoker in the vicinity. 

Is that all about "peer influence"?

I remember a family back home, moving out of the downtown core, so that his children would not be influenced by the typical residents there...

Well, in any event, one hell of a task, when I see here that just about all kids are smokers, early teens, and certainly influenced by all these hands sticking out of pick up trucks windows, with a cigarette between fingers... 

So good luck with that...

 

 

Cigarettes?  Just outlaw them.

2 hours ago, connda said:

Cigarettes?  Just outlaw them.

 

Sir cigs are very good for my or anyone else's health...I encourage everyone to smoke, including yourself...

 

Thankfully Pattaya is a smokers' paradise...I can smoke just about anywhere I want here any time I want...

9 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

‘Outstanding Smoke-Free Local Government Organisation (Cigarettes and E-Cigarettes)’ initiative.

Outstanding yes that's what you do if you want to smoke, stand outside init...

And next month they compete for criminal free competition.

3 hours ago, connda said:

Cigarettes?  Just outlaw them.

Why? Cigarettes don't kill people!

That's hilarious. Obviously it hasn't extended to the bars or the beach. If there are regulations they aren't enforced.

On 11/10/2025 at 3:47 AM, Georgealbert said:

Pattaya City has been named one of five Thai local government organisations shortlisted for the 2026 ASEAN Smoke-Free Award, recognising its achievements in tobacco control and public health promotion.

Maybe help CM with some advice

17 hours ago, jvs said:

Why? Cigarettes don't kill people!

Smoking them does...

Smoke free Pattaya?  Who's gonna enforce the rules?  I'd love to see it but I'm not holding my breath.  Actually, I have to hold my breath a lot when in Pattaya.

32 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Smoking them does...

Yes for sure.

What a load of B-$hit. Thailand has smoking laws that are not enforced. Cigarette pigs who smoke without regard for others are a plague because no business owner wants to do anything they think might drive said pigs away and lose their business. And the pigs just don’t care. That’s why they are pigs. Are they suddenly going to develop consideration for others and obey the law? Nope. I learned consideration and respect for others from my parents. In their own countries smoking is heavily restricted resulting in a major drop in the number of smokers. And those smokers manage to live with it with no problems.

Once again one of the many Thai jokes that you can hardly laugh at. 

Pattaya smoke free. No more bars that stink of cigarette smoke. But where do all the smokers go now? Into a re-education camp, a new source of tourism income?

4 minutes ago, Jonathan Swift said:

What a load of B-$hit. Thailand has smoking laws that are not enforced. Cigarette pigs who smoke without regard for others are a plague because no business owner wants to do anything they think might drive said pigs away and lose their business. And the pigs just don’t care. That’s why they are pigs. Are they suddenly going to develop consideration for others and obey the law? Nope. I learned consideration and respect for others from my parents. In their own countries smoking is heavily restricted resulting in a major drop in the number of smokers. And those smokers manage to live with it with no problems.

 

 

I have a mental image of you grunting like a wild boar whilst pounding your fists into the keyboard typing that out !

Smoking is good for your health, when i was 14 the ' Malborough Man ' tolled me that

Smoke free zone.? Walk out of your smoke free zone. And breath in the traffic and burning crops pollution. That's a lot healthier for you

 

On 11/10/2025 at 6:56 AM, dinsdale said:

Yet more evidence of empty heads running the show.

Plenty of opportunies to improve one's heath and wellness in Pattaya via stress release. As for restrictions on vapes as far as I know vapes and vaping is still illegal.

still see them around, a doctor told me that all smoke was bad for you, vape ,tobaccos, and gunga, but highway diesel is worse

5 hours ago, LALes said:

Smoke free Pattaya?  Who's gonna enforce the rules?  I'd love to see it but I'm not holding my breath.  Actually, I have to hold my breath a lot when in Pattaya.

Just another headline for a poly to make himself fell important

On 11/10/2025 at 10:56 AM, connda said:

Cigarettes?  Just outlaw them.

I smoke. Have you not learnt the lesson from the American Govt. banning alcohol (prohibition) in 1919,

 

"The Volstead Act, enacted in 1919, provided the legal framework for enforcing Prohibition. While the ban aimed to create a more virtuous society, it instead led to widespread bootlegging, the rise of organized crime, and a thriving black market for alcohol. The unintended consequences of Prohibition ultimately led to its repeal in 1933 with the ratification of the 21st Amendment, marking a rare instance in U.S. history where a constitutional amendment was overturned".

 

In short the smoke ban would do nil but increase the number of gangs selling it illegally and the Govt. makes no tax revenue.

 

PS Q: Do you know how the US Kennedys made their fortune?  Answer: Their grandfather sold alcohol illegally.

 

Do I need  to say more  Connda? 

Edit - Do not post in all bold as it is against forum rules @cynic1

 

On 11/10/2025 at 3:47 AM, Georgealbert said:

Pattaya City has been named .........................for the 2026 ASEAN Smoke-Free Award,

 

😄 😄  😄😄

 

So what is going to happen to all those ex-pat old farts who sit glued to their barstool with a pack of fags, cig lighter and ash tray on the bar in front of them? IMO good riddance especially when a no smoking sign is displayed and totally ignored!

9 hours ago, kiwikeith said:

still see them around, a doctor told me that all smoke was bad for you, vape ,tobaccos, and gunga, but highway diesel is worse

I am a doctor. I have never seen a diesel vehicle driving round inside a bar or restaurant, however I regularly smell the carcinogenic stink of illegal smoking in these places.

7 hours ago, Dr Jon said:

I am a doctor. I have never seen a diesel vehicle driving round inside a bar or restaurant, however I regularly smell the carcinogenic stink of illegal smoking in these places.

I'm talking about inhaling fumes on the freeway as worse than cigarette smoke, you must be some Dr 

14 hours ago, Burma Bill said:

 

😄 😄  😄😄

 

So what is going to happen to all those ex-pat old farts who sit glued to their barstool with a pack of fags, cig lighter and ash tray on the bar in front of them? IMO good riddance especially when a no smoking sign is displayed and totally ignored!

Yes, there are apparently additives in cigarettes to make them more addictive, when what we need is additives to make them more toxic to the user.