A review of smoke-free laws across the globe
Wednesday, November 07, 2012
From Print Edition
LAHORE: While the ‘dormant’ Tobacco Control Cell in Pakistan is undoubtedly in a state of magical slumber, primarily owing to the spell cast by the affluent cigarette manufacturers in the country, most nations in the world have framed relatively effective public policies, which ban fag smoking in workplaces etc.
These smoke-free global policies include criminal laws and occupational safety and health regulations. In Pakistan’s case, the Tobacco Control Cell is either haplessly watching the flagrant violation of the regulations governing the tobacco advertisements appearing in media or is ‘behaving’ like a party interested in facilitating cigarette manufacturers to keep on capturing this market without any hurdle and keep on minting money at the cost of public health and environment.
Remember, the Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Non-Smokers Health Ordinance of 2002 had come into effect in Pakistan on June 30, 2003. The law had placed restrictions upon tobacco use in public buildings and transportation, besides having limited tobacco advertising.
The law had also banned tobacco sale within 50 metres of educational institutions and had required “no smoking” signs to be displayed at all public places.But, one doesn’t have to be Stanford graduate to comment on the way this law has since been mocked by the smoking members of the public, mainly due to the lack of effective laws and state control.
Now that the Supreme Court of Pakistan is scheduled to hear the case pertaining the 2006 suo moto taken after the ineffective implementation of the Tobacco Control Ordinance on Wednesday (today), a quick research undertaken by “The News International” reveals that nearly whole of the world has passed laws that prohibit tobacco smoking in work places and the public spaces.
These laws may not be fully and effectively implemented across the globe due to the prowess of the international tobacco lobby, but the implementation level is still much better than what it is in Pakistan and the apex court might well come up with this observation too!
In fact, implementation of these smoke-free laws is virtually non-existent in Pakistan.Being a smoker himself, this correspondent feels that the menace of smoking should be limited and restricted with every passing day.
Pakistan thus resembles Romania and Russia, where there are no effective smoking restrictions in force till date.In Russia, however, the current legislation going through the Duma (parliament) has proposed a total smoking ban on all indoor places from January 1, 2015.
In Saudi Arabia, the Council of Ministers had urged the General Authority of Civil Aviation to restrict smoking at all airports and their facilities in the Kingdom. Strict rules were thus imposed on June 20, 2010.
In Singapore, smoking was restricted in coffee-shops, cafes and fast-food outlets, beginning July 2006. South Africa had passed the first Tobacco Products Control Act in 1993 and had started implementing the act in 1995.
The South African act had regulated smoking in public areas and prohibited tobacco sales to people under the age of 16. In Spain, since February 2011, businesses and institutions can be closed by the authorities for repeatedly violating the smoke-free law.
In Sweden, smoking was restricted in restaurants, cafes, bars and nightclubs in June 2005. In January 2008, the Swedish Prison and Probation Service had prohibited smoking indoors in prisons.
On July 19, 2009, Turkey had extended the indoor public smoking restrictions to include bars, restaurants, village coffeehouses and bars etc.In England, smoke-free workplace laws have been in effect since July 1, 2007. The on-the-spot fine for smoking in a workplace is £50. It is £30, if one pays the penalty within 15 days.
A business that allows smoking in UK can be fined up to £2,500.It goes without saying that smoking largely remains permitted outdoors, apart from the UK railway stations.
In United States, the aggressiveness of smoking bans varies widely throughout the 50 odd states. Of the 60 most populated cities in the United States, all but 17 ban smoking in all bars and restaurants.
By March 2012, some 27 US states had banned smoking in all general workplaces and public places, including bars and restaurants, though tobacconists, cigar bars, casinos and private clubs etc were exempted.
Seven American states have enacted smoking bans exempting all adult venues including bars, and in some cases, casinos and restaurants too.
States like Georgia, Idaho, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina and Virginia have enacted laws banning smoking in specific places, but around 10 states have no smoking bans at all.
Germany had introduced a smoking ban in 2007. Smoking has since been prohibited in all trains and railway stations. Numerous criminal laws and occupational safety and health regulations were thus enacted to discourage smokers and the tobacco players in this important European country.
However, German media has been reporting at times that bans on smoking in bars were being very weakly controlled by the authorities.
Ireland became the first country in the world to institute a comprehensive smoke-free workplaces law on March 29, 2004.
Before this smoke-free law was instituted, smoking had already been outlawed in public buildings, hospitals, public pharmacies, schools, banking halls, cinemas, public hairdressing premises and restaurant kitchens etc in 1998.
In India, a smoke-free law pertaining to public places came into effect from October 2, 2008. Smoking as immediately prohibited in public places but wasallowed on roads, inside homes or private vehicles. Specific areas were designated for smoking purposes.
In Israel, a 2011 law restricts smoking in railway stations and at bus stops, and prohibits the sale of tobacco from automated vending machines, although efforts were underway since 1983.
In Austria, smoking was prohibited in 2007 in all offices with exceptions such as bars, discos and restaurants etc. In 2009, an Israeli law said that all restaurants, bars, discos and pubs larger must have separate smoking rooms and non-smoking rooms.
It can be safely assumed that taking a leaf out of Germany’s book, Austria had gone on to ban smoking in all trains, railway stations and public places etc.
In Italy, it is forbidden to smoke in all public indoor spaces, including bars, cafes, restaurants and discos since January 2005.
In Belgium, companies were directed to implement smoking plans to discourage this menace and in 2006, it was finally prohibited in the work area.
In 2007, it was prohibited in Belgian restaurants, musical concert venues and most bars.
In September 2008, smoking was no longer allowed in Belgian schools.
Bahrain had outlawed smoking in public places in February 2008.
Bosnia and Herzegovina has prohibited smoking in public buildings since 2007.
In Denmark, since August 2007, smoking in hospitality facilities, restaurants, bars, clubs, public transport and all private and public workplaces has been restricted.
Brazil did it on December 15, 2011.
Hong Kong has seen all public smoking restricted since January 2007.
In Hungary, a smoke-free law covering all public spaces is in effect from January 2012.
Kuwait did it in 2012 too.
Monaco enacted such laws in November 2008 and Mauritius did it in March 2009.
In Holland, the Amsterdam Airport “Schiphol” became the first completely smoke-free European airport in January 2008.
However, since August 2008, smoking has been allowed in designated smoking rooms, but there are reports that the law is being flouted in bars and discos mostly.
The first building in the world to have a smoke-free policy was the Old Government Building in Wellington, New Zealand, in 1876.
On September 5, 2007, Action on Smoking and Health in New Zealand called for the removal of tobacco from sale by 2017 and the government here wants to be smoke-free by 2025.
In Norway, smoking has been prohibited in all public areas since June 2004.
Bulgaria, Greece and Canada came up with similar regulations in 2010.
China introduced a national smoking ban, extending to all enclosed public areas, in May 2011, though efforts in this context were underway since 2007.
Cuba has prohibited smoking in most work places since February 2005.
Interestingly, although specific Japanese laws in this context are still non-existent, private businesses are implementing voluntary smoking restrictions bans in restaurants, taxis, buildings and bars etc.
In Malaysia, since June 2010, it is an offence to smoke at private office spaces with central air-conditioning. Violators can be fined up an amount equivalent to US$3,333, or may face two years of imprisonment.
Tomado de:
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario