Thailand's Smoking Rules--please.

[haybilly]

Well, although I have been aware of a change in the law with regard to smoking [ cigarettes] in A/C buildings, bars, restaurants, cinemas, etc... since when was it illegal to smoke out in the open--or is it? Point in question, yesterday I attended the 'graduation day' at my daughter's school and it was a pretty big do--many people sitting 10 or more to a table watching the presentations,dancing and so on, and food was brought around to the tables, all of this was outside 'al fresco'--I noticed that no one was smoking and in the beginning, when I needed to smoke I wandered out of the school grounds and had my fix--later, much later, and well after dark I thought it safe enough/dark enough for a crafty fag [ not as in the American sense!!] and walked to the side of one of the buildings-at this point a distant Thai relative joined me but said that nowadays we could be arrested for doing just this--is he correct, or just paranoid??

Enlighten me, please.

[Ciaphas]

I know it is illegal to smoke in the street in bangkok and the police make alot of money fining farang unaware of this law. But not sure about the rest of thailand.

[PhilHarries]

I know it is illegal to smoke in the street in bangkok and the police make alot of money fining farang unaware of this law. But not sure about the rest of thailand.

I'm 99% sure you a wrong regarding smoking being illegal in the street in Bangkok. Many bars have smoking tables set up on the pavement (sidewalk) and last time I was there people were smoking outside. Where you might be getting confused is the little police scam of fining a farang something like 2000 Baht for dropping a cigarette butt whilst ignoring the plastic bags dropped by Thais.

It is not, as far as I know, illegal to smoke outside buildings although I am sure the health fascists are working on it.

[peter991]

I know it is illegal to smoke in the street in bangkok and the police make alot of money fining farang unaware of this law. But not sure about the rest of thailand.

I asked a BKK Thai about this and was told it is legal to smoke in the street. It is illegal to throw away the butt. That can cost you a 2000 baht fine. It's getting harder and harder to find an ashtray in the street - often have to put out the cigarette throughly and then - making it obvious - put the butt in my pocket.

Peter

[jdinasia]

lol ... illegal to smoke outside? No .. (but it is illegal to smoke at bus=stops etc)

[twschw]

Perhaps smoking is banned on school property much like bars etc.

[haybilly]

Hi

I accept smoking banning

I'm sure you do--so, in principle do I, all I really want to know is--where the XXXX can I smoke?? When they slide me through the little doors in the crematorium, I guess??

[suegha]

Hi

I accept smoking banning

I'm sure you do--so, in principle do I, all I really want to know is--where the XXXX can I smoke?? When they slide me through the little doors in the crematorium, I guess??

[suegha]

Crematorium - smoking or non-smoking?

[jstumbo]

Hi

I accept smoking banning

I'm sure you do--so, in principle do I, all I really want to know is--where the XXXX can I smoke?? When they slide me through the little doors in the crematorium, I guess??

I have a cremation urn business. That gives me an idea, maybe an urn shaped like an ashtray.

Edited March 21, 2008 by jstumbo

[spasticated]

<br />Well, although I have been aware of a change in the law with regard to smoking [ cigarettes] in A/C buildings, bars, restaurants, cinemas, etc... since when was it illegal to smoke out in the open--or is it? Point in question, yesterday I attended the 'graduation day' at my daughter's school and it was a pretty big do--many people sitting 10 or more to a table watching the presentations,dancing and so on, and food was brought around to the tables, all of this was outside 'al fresco'--I noticed that no one was smoking and in the beginning, when I needed to smoke I wandered out of the school grounds and had my fix--later, much later, and well after dark I thought it safe enough/dark enough for a crafty fag [ not as in the American sense!!] and walked to the side of one of the buildings-at this point a distant Thai relative joined me but said that nowadays we could be arrested for doing just this--is he correct, or just paranoid??<br /> Enlighten me, please.<br />

<br /><br /><br />

No it means hes Thai , ask any Thai what a solid white line at a road junction means whilst driving??? Then ask them what they do if they see one, they dont know their own rules and if they do dont obey them.

[CymruAmByth]

For what it's worth.

Hanrahans on Soi 4 = no smoking. Go over the road to Cheqers = smoke your tits off.

TIT

[sgunn65]

Just to confuse matters I was in a bar in Bangkok last night and it was smoking business as usual inside.

I asked when I arrived if I could smoke at the tables outside and was told I could also smoke inside. There was a woman smoking at the bar too.

I think the law is; ask!!!

[chiang mai]

The rules of the no smoking law will be interpreted and applied differently in each location. Technically the rules state that smoking is prohibited in any building that is contained and air conditioned - some police have said that you cannot smoke where there is a roof above your head. But if you wander around the bars and entertainment venues in BKK you will see some bars totally disregard the law entirely, others enforce it and some half adopted half way measures. It is legal to smoke in the street but not to litter by throwing a cigarette butt on the ground although this law is only enforced as far as I can see on lower Sukhunmvit where it's a nice little earner for the BIB. Expect enforcement of this law to go the same as all others in Thailand and to be enforced when it suits the BIB or when they need some spending money.