Women's network calls for NLA to quickly pass tobacco regulations

BANGKOK, 7 July 2015 (NNT) - A women’s network of Thailand’s 4 regions has petitioned the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) to quickly consider new tobacco legislation, fearing political interference might take place.

The group yesterday submitted the petition to NLA Vice Chairman Surachai Liengboonlertchai. The petition urged the NLA to include members of the public in the NLA’s committee to study the effects of tobacco on health, environment, income, family and society.

The NLA should also pass legislation aimed at prohibiting indirect advertising of tobacco products and preventing political interference in tobacco-related policies.

Policies must also be designed to prevent teenagers from having access to tobacco products, such as enforcing the 20-years-old-and-above sales rule, banning the sales of cigarettes sold in small quantities, banning an open display of tobacco products in stores, and supporting anti-smoking campaigns.


-- NNT 2015-08-07

How about a 300 metre exclusion zone around schools?

What do they cost? $2 a packet...Increase the tax on them by 500% and they will still be cheaper than in the West.

Not going to happen. Too many Big Hats in the pay of the tobacco companies. And one or two *really* Big Hats.

A group is lobbying the legislature to prevent political interference in tobacco legislation.

Ok for me...not ok for you.

I have heard that many of the pooyings at the entertainment areas in this country are known to smoke. Have they been asked for an opinion?

This makes sense and should be expedited.

Edited August 7, 201510 yr by Jai Dee
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"Policies must also be designed to prevent teenagers from having access to tobacco products, such as enforcing the 20-years-old-and-above sales rule, banning the sales of cigarettes sold in small quantities, banning an open display of tobacco products in stores, and supporting anti-smoking campaigns."

I'm not going to comment on the health-related aspects of smoking per se.

"prevent teenagers from having access to tobacco products" - fair enough

"enforcing the 20-years-old-and-above sales rule" - fair enough

"banning an open display of tobacco products in stores" - fair enough

"supporting anti-smoking campaigns" - fair enough

"banning the sales of cigarettes sold in small quantities" - not fair at all!

So if a person has a good job, he can buy a pack of 20 cigarettes for 67 baht but if he works for a daily wage of 300 baht (or less) he can't buy 5 cigarettes for 20 baht?

What entertainment or relaxation can a poor person afford other than 2 shots of lao kao at 10 baht each and a bundle of 5 cigarettes?

In rural areas, when you go into a store to buy cigarettes, you're commonly asked "How many do you want?" Most villagers don't have enough cash to buy a pack.

Not fair at all!

How about a 300 metre exclusion zone around schools?

...and non smoker!

Here come the anti-smoking commandos to applaud this brave effort. It's a good thing no-one gives a damn what you think or the world would be insufferable.

If the Thai women network was so considered about clean air then maybe they could start with driving small environment friendly cars. They can't control the big models at all which leads to very dangerous situations.