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Bhutan
Country Information
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Bhutan Information |
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Bhutan Information |
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Government
to ban smoking in public places
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| Two
months after the nationwide ban on the sale of tobacco products the government
has announced a ban on smoking in "public places", public places being
defined as "all places where people gather".
These
include parks, discotheques, entertainment
centers, sports facilities like football grounds and archery ranges, commercial
centres including shops, bars and restaurants, institutions like dzongs,
hospitals, schools, and government offices, public transport carriers,
public gatherings such as tshechus, official receptions, national celebrations,
and vegetable markets. |
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There
will not be smoking corners as suggested by smokers and observers see the
council of ministers' decision as a move to make Bhutan a smoke-free nation.
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| The
tobacco is banned in "all places where people gather". These include parks,
discotheques, entertainment centers, sports facilities like football grounds
and archery ranges, commercial centres including shops, bars and restaurants,
institutions like dzongs, hospitals, schools, and government offices, public
transport carriers, public gatherings such as tshechus, official receptions,
national celebrations, and vegetable markets. will not apply to foreign
tourists, diplomats or those working for NGOs. People who cannot kick the
habit can import tobacco for personal use, but at a 100 percent tax. They
can only smoke indoors in the privacy of their homes. |
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The
new ban was received with much support and enthusiasm by the members of
the health ministry-led tobacco control body which met this week in Thimphu.
Various strategies will be drawn to implement the ban nationwide, according
to the joint director of the ministry's Information and Communication Bureau,
Sonam Phuntsho.
"It
is a sensitive issue because it deals with personal rights," said Sonam
Phuntsho, also a member of the tobacco control body. "We are trying to
approach the ban in a holistic and multi-sectoral way." Endorsed by the
National Assembly in 2004 the ban has pushed tobacco off the shelves in
shops across the country. Many government offices have also taken the initiative
to make their premises smoke free.
It
is estimated that three percent of the people in the urban areas and one
percent in the villages smoked or chewed tobacco.It is also public knowledge
that cigarettes and chewing tobacco are available under the counter in
many shops. Government officials are levying heavy penalties on those found
selling tobacco.
Dophu
Tshering said that the trade ministry, with the help of the police, would
investigate the tobacco black market networks and violators would be charged.
The implementation of the tobacco ban would be consistent. The inspection
team is constantly on the move.
Trade
and revenue officials said that seized tobacco products were burnt. However,
a recent tobacco control meeting decided to bury the seized products because
"tobacco flames polluted the air".
Smokers,
meanwhile, protest that the ban is a draconian policy that infringes on
their personal choice.
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