From The Nation:
Lighting up anywhere in airconditioned entertainment establishments and parts of outdoor public venues, including the Chatuchak Weekend Market, will be banned as of February 17.
“For the openair food courts or markets, smoking will be allowed only in designated corners,” Dr Hatai Chitanondh, chairman of the Thailand Health Promotion Institute, said yesterday.
Offenders will be fined Bt2,000 for smokers and Bt20,000 for operators.
Puffing on cigarettes and the like is already prohibited in airconditioned restaurants but the Public Health Ministry’s regulation to include airconditioned pubs, discos and bars will take effect 45 days after it is published in the Royal Gazette.
Hatai admitted that some owners of pubs and nighttime hangouts might resist, as they believe a smoking ban will hurt their trade.
“But our research has found that the businesses might suffer some impacts only in the beginning. After a while, pubs and entertainment places will not only get their old customers back but will also attract new nonsmoking patrons,” he said.
The nosmoking rule will also be good for the health of customers and staff, he said, adding, “Music performances will be better because musical instruments won’t be exposed to the smoke.”
All I can say is THANK GOD! One thing I abhor is walking into a club and seeing a miasma of smoke blanketing the crowd. When I go home, my entire body is saturated in the smell of tobacco and I shudder to think what my exposure level to second smoke is. It’s about damn time they got around to this. I just hope they enforce it when it comes into effect.
