Thailand Passes New Public Smoking Ban

Thailand’s Department of Public Health has issued new regulations on smoking in public that will essentially ban smoking in or near public buildings and other highly concentrated public areas.

Now, there will be a five-meter non-smoking area around the entrances and exits of all public buildings, including condos, restaurants, bars, clubs, schools, hospitals, and hotels.

Those who disregard the new regulations and smoke wherever they please could face fines of up to 5,000 baht.

The smoking ban is expected to come into effect in 90 days.

On top of barring individuals from smoking in close proximity to public places, the regulations also specify exactly where indoor smoking areas can be placed as well as limits the language that cigarette manufacturers can include on their packaging.

Words like “sexy”, “girl”, “women”, “low tar”, and “classic” will no longer be allowed.

Public smoking bans were first introduced in Thailand in 2005.

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