The Public Health Ministry will enforce listed no-smoking zones after the list was published in the Royal Gazette last month; the law comes into effect from February 3 next year.
The no-smoking zones include hospitals, schools, airport terminals, ATMs, hotel lobbies, and government offices, but some smoking areas will still be allowed in designated zones. Smokers heading outside the front of buildings in Thailand for a quick cigarette will soon be a thing of the past. New regulations have been issued by the Department of Public Health which will force smokers to stay well away from public buildings and public areas. The ban will include people smoking outside café and restaurants.
There will be a five metre perimeter exclusion zone from the entrances or exist of all public buildings. This includes condos, rental buildings, pubs, hotels, religious buildings, karaoke establishments, restaurants, laundries, salons, cinemas, parking areas, spas, areas for Thai massage, clinics, hospitals, schools, swimming pools, fitness parks, clinics and ‘other places. The regulations also specify precisely where internal smoking areas in buildings may be located. The design and sizes of required ‘no smoking’ signs (not less than 10 centimetres) is now in place.
All these announcements are based on the current laws but have been brought up to date and adapted. Other regulations, coming into effect from May 4th next year, refer to permissible wording that can be used on cigarette packets. Language such as “low tar”, “classic”, “women” and “sexy” will not be allowed. People flouting the new regulations will be fined 5,000 THB.
