Smokers To Face Harsher Punishment For Smoking In Public: Thailand

[webfact]

Smokers to face harsher punishment for smoking in public

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Smokers who light up their cigarettes at a public place will be facing a harsher punishment and the minimum age of cigarette buyers will rise to 20 if ongoing efforts to push for a tougher antismoking law sail through.

"They will be fined Bt5,000 instead of Bt2,000," Deputy Public Health Minister Surawit Khonsomboon said Thursday about the new draft law.

According to him, the draft law will also raise the minimum age of cigarette buyers from 18 to 20 years old. It will ban cigarette vending machines, Internetbased cigarette sale, and the sale of packageless cigarettes as well.

-- The Nation 2012-08-16

[cloudhopper]

I wonder how many of those 2000 baht fines have ever been levied...

[theslime]

Seems a Tad steep for smoking on Suk or any open space. Crazy.

[timjonespserve]

Might be a stupid question, but what defines "public space"? is that anywhere outside of privately owned land?

[whybother]

Apparently they're going to fine 100% more than they currently do.

Edited August 16, 2012 by whybother

[BeforeTigers]

Ahhh yes. Idle politicians drafting toothless legislation to restrict individual rights on issues that nobody is actually concerned about. Reminds me of home.

[Nisa]

Might be a stupid question, but what defines "public space"? is that anywhere outside of privately owned land?

I don't think they have worded this right. There is currently a 2,000 baht fine for smoking in places that you already cannot such as parks. It appears they simply want to raise this to 5,000 and not mention of adding to the places you already cannot smoke.

[Pseudolus]

I think they mean anywhere that displays a no smoking sign such as parks etc. The down side thought is that the waste of space feckless coppers will now extort 5k instead of 2k from Farangs all the time now. Wonder if this came from Chalerm? He was a copper I believe and is most likely the top of the graft pyramid for the cops now?

[WhizBang]

It would be nice if they would just enforce the existing laws. Far too many bars and restaurants currently allow smoking inside their air conditioned spaces. I would just like to see all areas that should be smoke free under the current laws actually be smoke free.

[Tanuki]

Great news! oh wait who will be enforcing this? *sigh nevermind. business as usual smoke up!

[Nisa]

It would be nice if they would just enforce the existing laws. Far too many bars and restaurants currently allow smoking inside their air conditioned spaces. I would just like to see all areas that should be smoke free under the current laws actually be smoke free.

There are plenty of places to go where smoking isn't allowed. In fact, the vast majority of air conditioned places do not allow smoking. I personally believe if an owner of a business wants to allow smoking it is their business and you don't have to work there or go there if you don't like it. If safety is involved (company that stores say gasoline) that is a different story but as for second hand smoke being dangerous, that is nonsense. These claims are all false and started out based on reports where a higher level of cancer was detected in people who lived in homes of smokers but what nobody mentions if the levels were within the margins of error making the report truly mean there is no increase or risk.

Insurance companies are largely to blame for this myth because they don't want people to smoke. Not because of second hand smoke but because it does effect the health of those who smoke.

Common sense should tell you the dangerous of being around second hand smoke are considerably less than driving in traffic. You can lock your self away in a small room with smokers for days and the result is going to be smelling like smoke but try putting yourself in a locked room with a running vehicle for just 30-minutes.

As for smoking in parks and such, there is little reason for having a law against it but should be heavy fines for littering a discarded cigarette. On the other hand, I have no issue with banning smoking in places where kids tend to hangout such as parks because it is a bad habit and often hurts the health of the user.

http://yourdoctorsorders.com/2009/01/the-myth-of-second-hand-smoke/

http://www.freedom-of-choice.com/AS3.htm

http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Stossel/story?id=1955237&page=1#.UCzfQt2PWSo

Edited August 16, 2012 by Nisa

[johnlexo]

Pattaya - Is smoking in closed / air-conditioned bars allowed or not? Where I go, I see "No Smoking" signs up, but usually within minutes some idiot shows up and starts smoking and blowing me the smoke in the face. Really pisses me off. Most of these guys are so disrespectful towards non-smokers. JL.

[Nisa]

Pattaya - Is smoking in closed / air-conditioned bars allowed or not? Where I go, I see "No Smoking" signs up, but usually within minutes some idiot shows up and starts smoking and blowing me the smoke in the face. Really pisses me off. Most of these guys are so disrespectful towards non-smokers. JL.

There continues to be laws added but when the law was first passed there were exceptions for entertainment areas and I believe it is not just air conditioned places but they had to be enclosed (four walls). I think the laws have gotten stricter but not sure what they are now but chances are if you see a non-smoking sign then it is illegal there.

Edit: Just found this http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news08/152-SmokinginThailand.shtml .. a quick glance seems to indicate they are allowed to have smoking areas even in enclosed places.

Edited August 16, 2012 by Nisa

[KeyserSoze01]

Might be a stupid question, but what defines "public space"? is that anywhere outside of privately owned land?

It will be where ever the plod choose to enforce it. I can imagine the BiB are rubbing their hands and licking their chops with this news.

[kennedy]

Anyone worried about second had smoke from cig smoke, should not drive or ride in a fossil fueled vehicle, and stay out of bars, or stay out of Bangkok.

Go for a morning jog in Bangkok, and inhale deeply my friend.

[Bagwan]

Anyone worried about second had smoke from cig smoke, should not drive or ride in a fossil fueled vehicle, and stay out of bars, or stay out of Bangkok.

Go for a morning jog in Bangkok, and inhale deeply my friend.

Or Pattaya. Or Chiang Mai.

This is about making money and nothing to do with the nation's health. Do something about the buses, lorries, tuk tuks and two stroke motor bikes.

[stefb1964]

Might be a stupid question, but what defines "public space"? is that anywhere outside of privately owned land?

Just to give you an idea.. In Belgium public spaces include all buildings (or places for that matter) with public access as there are : governmental buildings (even at a municipality level), libraries, railway stations, airports, police stations as well as all public transport...

Asking questions can not be considered stupid, only the answers one may get could be stupid.

Edited August 16, 2012 by stefb1964

[notmyself]

Might be a stupid question, but what defines "public space"? is that anywhere outside of privately owned land?

It will be where ever the plod choose to enforce it.

Certainly seems the most likely outcome. Couple of plod will come into my friends bar/restaurant which has signs all over the place. They will stay for a coffe and a couple of smokes before heading off.

[kimincm]

A street's a public thoroughfare,the sky's the limit on this one.

[asiawatcher]

If there is really transparency and honour in collecting fines from people smoking in public places rather than just skimming for crooked boys in brown, no one would mind. Thai's are not targeted, only farang, I have yet to see a Thai nailed for this. Really stupid law if it gets thru. I would hazard a guess the BiB have never been held to book for any fine taken from a smoker. Love to be proven wrong.

[Nisa]

If there is really transparency and honour in collecting fines from people smoking in public places rather than just skimming for crooked boys in brown, no one would mind. Thai's are not targeted, only farang, I have yet to see a Thai nailed for this. Really stupid law if it gets thru. I would hazard a guess the BiB have never been held to book for any fine taken from a smoker. Love to be proven wrong.

If falong no smoke where no spose smoke - falong no need worry

Edited August 16, 2012 by Nisa

[Katipo]

I wonder how many of those 2000 baht fines have ever been levied...

Against unsuspecting tourists in central Bangkok, thousands.

[Mousehound]

Min of health in OZ now talking about a ban in the next ten years or so on cigs altogether. Now law has passed banning any packaging other than drab green with health warning. Also no duty free cigs into OZ.

[sscsamui]

Hahaha... Yah right

[MEL1]

Is the back of a 4X4 Isuzu, in public traffic, a private or public place? That would be a good start.

-mel.

[Bluespunk]

What is the point of a new law if you never enforced the old one? Stupid headline grabbing nonsense.

[Thai at Heart]

Well the police are supposed to "serve" the public. Can i ask him to bring a coffee while he write s the fine?

[yourauntbob]

As a smoker I will say this, i dont mind not being able to smoke indoors and i dont believe people should be able to. Bar owners should have the right to allow smokers or not allow them and their customers can decide to go or not go to their establishment. Smoking should NOT be banned from open air areas or at minimum there should be designated spaces in which its allowed. i lived in NYC for a few years and it never bothered me to go outside (even in the cold) to have a puff and then rejoin my friends inside, I actually enjoyed walking back into a clean atmosphere.

To all the smokers out there, be polite and respect the fact that many people dont smoke. Move away from the crowd before lighting up.

To all non smokers. Respect the right of people to enjoy a cigarette and stop trying to completely eliminate it from all public space.

p.s. dispose of your cigarettes properly, do not just toss them on the ground. find an ashtray or extinguish it and throw it in the trash.

Edited August 16, 2012 by yourauntbob

[nisakiman]

It would be nice if they would just enforce the existing laws. Far too many bars and restaurants currently allow smoking inside their air conditioned spaces. I would just like to see all areas that should be smoke free under the current laws actually be smoke free.

There are plenty of places to go where smoking isn't allowed. In fact, the vast majority of air conditioned places do not allow smoking. I personally believe if an owner of a business wants to allow smoking it is their business and you don't have to work there or go there if you don't like it. If safety is involved (company that stores say gasoline) that is a different story but as for second hand smoke being dangerous, that is nonsense. These claims are all false and started out based on reports where a higher level of cancer was detected in people who lived in homes of smokers but what nobody mentions if the levels were within the margins of error making the report truly mean there is no increase or risk.

Insurance companies are largely to blame for this myth because they don't want people to smoke. Not because of second hand smoke but because it does effect the health of those who smoke.

Common sense should tell you the dangerous of being around second hand smoke are considerably less than driving in traffic. You can lock your self away in a small room with smokers for days and the result is going to be smelling like smoke but try putting yourself in a locked room with a running vehicle for just 30-minutes.

As for smoking in parks and such, there is little reason for having a law against it but should be heavy fines for littering a discarded cigarette. On the other hand, I have no issue with banning smoking in places where kids tend to hangout such as parks because it is a bad habit and often hurts the health of the user.

http://yourdoctorsor...ond-hand-smoke/

http://www.freedom-o...ice.com/AS3.htm

http://abcnews.go.co...=1#.UCzfQt2PWSo

The whole Tobacco Control Industry gravy-train is built on foundations of sand. Junk science, piss-poor epidemiology and cherry-picked and fudged statistics.

If you really are interested in the depths to which the anti-tobacco zealots are prepared to sink in their mania to compel people to adopt their favoured lifestyles, have a look at this website:

http://tctactics.org/index.php/Main_Page

Trashed economies, ruined businesses, destroyed social lives, stolen property rights; they don't care. Just collateral damage on their idealogical road to an unachievable "smoke-free" utopia.

Amply aided and abetted to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars by the pharmaceutical industry, whose 'Nicotine Replacement Therapy' (NRT) products are a multi-billion dollar market. That perhaps wouldn't be quite so bad if NRT actually worked. But with NRT aided quit rates as low as 0.2%, it's hardly a resounding endorsement of their products. And it certainly doesn't even begin to justify the denormalisation and demonisation of smokers that is the current trend, so enthusiastically encouraged by those same pharmaceutical companies.

As always, if you want to know why things are happening the way they are, just follow the money, and all will be revealed.

[sysardman]

Is the back of a 4X4 Isuzu, in public traffic, a private or public place? That would be a good start.

-mel.

Depends if your windows are up or down