Tobacco.org

• Thailand smoking ban largely accepted, mused about 

When an extension to Thailand’s existing anti-smoking law became effective on 17 February 2008 it triggered mixed reactions among tobacco lovers.

While a majority of smokers asserted they had no difficulties complying with the new law, others would not give in as easily and went to the barricades.

Local English-language newspapers like the “Bangkok Post”, “The Nation” and “Pattaya Mail” were flooded with readers’ letters mainly from foreign tourists, residents and expats decrying the stringent conditions the ban imposed.

Some went as far as predicting that the country would suffer a decline in tourism, one of Thailand’s most important foreign exchange earners. . . .

None of these doomsday prophecies have materialized so far, of course, and, in fact, all parties concerned appear to have adapted themselves well.

The original anti-smoking law, introduced in 2001, banned smoking in all public places such as government buildings, hospitals, shopping malls, parks and hotel lobbies, as well as in air-conditioned restaurants.

The latter were permitted to set up smoking areas as long as these were separated in a way that prevented tobacco smoke from wafting through the non-smoking sections.

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LETTER: The tobacco industry and truth in advertising 

Not only is it unfair, but it is also intentionally deceptive of the tobacco industry to continue to promote its harmful and lethal products portrayed through "cool", "sexy" or "sophisticated" imagery.

It is about time all Asean governments put an end to all forms of direct and indirect tobacco advertising, promotions and sponsorship, because where tobacco companies are concerned, there is no such thing as "truth in advertising".

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Higher tobacco taxes best medicine, experts say  

Bangkok - Higher taxes on tobacco are the most effective way for governments to combat the health and social costs of smoking, experts attending a World Health Organization (WHO) meting said Tuesday.

'Higher taxes on tobacco lead to higher prices for tobacco products, which immediately discourage non-smokers from starting and current smokers from continuing with the habit,' said Bungon Ritthiphakdee, director of the Bangkok-based South-East Asia Tobacco Control Alliance.

That conclusion was shared by other experts and government officials attending this week's meeting in Bangkok on WHO's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

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'Tobacco firms exploiting loopholes' 

ANTI-TOBACCO advocates from Southeast Asia said efforts to rid the region of the smoking habit will fail unless tobacco control laws, particularly those banning the promotion and advertising of tobacco products, are enforced effectively by all Asean member countries.

The Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance's (Seatca) policy development adviser, Mary Assunta, said it was time for all Southeast Asian countries to pool their efforts and enact measures that could reduce tobacco use.

"Unless we all effectively implement the global treaty that includes a ban on advertising and promotions, our people and children will remain vulnerable to the aggressive marketing tactics of Big Tobacco," she said.

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Tobacco threat pervasive 

Anti-smoking advocates from around Southeast Asia have agreed on the need to work together to push for the enforcement of a comprehensive ban on the promotion and advertising of tobacco products.

The need to combat what they said was increasingly subtle and sophisticated tobacco marketing was stressed at a two-day workshop that ended on Friday, organised by the Bangkok-based Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (Seatca) and the Health Promotion Board of Singapore.

The aim of the gathering was for participants from the region to share their experiences and lessons in anti-smoking campaigns and to address the need to tighten controls on anti-tobacco laws among Southeast Asian countries under Article 13 of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control of the World Health Organisation.

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Profits for Thailand Tobacco Monopoly expected to fall 

Profits for the state-owned Thailand Tobacco Monopoly (TTM) are expected to fall more than half to just THB two billion (EUR 41.5 million) per year within five years.

This is due to competition from foreign producers and declines in cigarette smoking. Pradit Pataraprasit, deputy finance minister, said the market share for foreign brands had increased by around 1 per cent per year over the past several years to around 25 per cent now. Declining rates of smoking and new depreciation charges that the TTM must now book on recent machinery upgrades would further affect profits over the next several years, he said.

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• Grim forecast for tobacco firm 

Profits for the state-owned Thailand Tobacco Monopoly are expected to fall more than half to just two billion baht per year within five years due to competition from foreign producers and declines in cigarette smoking.

The TTM, which posted 2007 net profits of 4.5 billion baht, produces the market-leading Krong Thip brand, and enjoys significant tax advantages over foreign imports. Sales last year totalled 30.9 billion cigarettes. . . .

One of the most popular foreign brands, Philip Morris's Marlboro, is produced in the Philippines and enjoys preferential import tariffs under the Afta programme.

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• Stop ‘Fronting’ for Tobacco Companies, Government Urged  

An anti-tobacco group today asked the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to strictly adhere to the provisions of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) of the World Health Organization (WHO) and urged the Philippine government to stop "fronting for the selfish business interests of big-time multi-national tobacco corporations."

Dr. Maricar Limpin, Executive Director of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance- Philippines (FCAP), issued the call as she criticized the move of DTI to file a case against Thailand before the World Trade Organization (WTO) for allegedly imposing high tariffs on Philip Morris products produced in the Philippines.

After failing to resolve the trade row through diplomatic channels, the Philippine government, through DTI Undersecretary Thomas Aquino has filed a case versus Thailand, accusing Bangkok of discriminating against Manila's cigarette exports to protect a state-owned tobacco monopoly.

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TTM expects lower profits 

Thailand Tobacco Monopoly is instructed to maintain profitability, at times when health concerns are leading to lower smoking and higher competition from cheap cigarettes.

Deputy Finance Minister Pradit Pataraprasit said after the visit to the TTM office on Thursday that the agency should review the competency of over 200 agents, find ways to reduce expenses, seek more revenue from related businesses, and find new partners.

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• Mammoth tobacco-smuggling trial begins 

The trial of a former provincial deputy mayor, 16 customs officers and two policemen implicated in a major tobacco-smuggling cartel opens in the northern province of Lao Cai Wednesday.

The 25 defendants, accused of smuggling 11,000 tons of tobacco from China, have been charged with abusing power, offering and taking bribes, smuggling and fraud, prosecutors said.

Nguyen Ngoc Kim, former deputy chairman of the Lao Cai's People's Committee, received kickbacks to illegally ratify 14 documents allowing several private enterprises to "import" tobacco, the indictment said.

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Smoking, drinking Thai health official says he's no model for anti-smoking campaign 

One of Thailand's most high-profile bad boys may have secured himself a respectable position in the Health Ministry, but he's not yet ready to become a poster child for any campaigns to promote clean living.

The Health Ministry indicated last week that Wan Yoobamrung, who has a well-known history of barroom brawls, could feature in advertisements to publicize newly imposed smoking bans in bars, nightclubs and open-air markets -- a suggestion that raised eyebrows given Wan's notorious past.

"I can't accept the role because I still smoke and drink," Wan said Friday, his first day at work as the secretary to the deputy minister of health. "I'm trying to quit."

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• Strict smoking bans in force 

A total ban on smoking in pubs and clubs throughout the country takes effect today, to the delight of non-smokers and the chagrin of smokers. The ban covers all air-conditioned bars, pubs, discos and clubs.

In addition, the owners of outdoor restaurants and markets are required to designate smoking and non-smoking zones.

''They will have to cross the street to smoke over there,'' said Than Leebamrung, the 36-year-old owner of the Sapha Kafe (Coffee Council) bar, when asked what arrangements he had made to help his customers.

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Thai smokers take one last puff 

This weekend was supposed to be the last time for smokers in Thailand to puff in public, but Bangkok restaurant and bar owners said the ban - which many of them didn't know about - would not work.

"I haven't heard anything about a new smoking ban. When will it take effect?" Jidapa Kongchul asked as she handed an ashtray to a client. . . .

Starting Monday, smoking in bars, restaurants and even open-air markets can be punished with a 2 000 baht ($60) fine. Owners of venues that allow smoking could face a 20 000 baht fine.

Not a good idea

Thailand, where about 17% of the nation's 65 million people are smokers who consume 110 million cigarettes daily, already bans smoking at public places such as government buildings, train stations and hospitals.

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• Bar smoking ban takes effect tonight 

Although Komkrit and Kitisak said they did not plan to give up their nightlife, thousands of night-time entertainment venues are shuddering at the thought that the smoking ban will scare customers away, even if only for a certain period of time.

"After the ban takes effect, it will take time for customers to adjust themselves to the rule," Route 66 pub manager Ronnakrit Panprapas said.

He expected to see a sharp drop in customers for some time.

Sompong Lueboon, entertainment manager at Chaikha Pakkai pub, said more than 80 per cent of his customers smoked.

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• Police ready to arrest breakers of smoking ban 

Responding to the Public Health Ministry's regulation to ban smoking in air-conditioned pubs, discos and clubs from February 11, Metropolitan Police Friday had all of Bangkok's 88 police stations ready to arrest and fine any rule breakers.

City deputy police commissioner MajGeneral Suporn Phanseua said all officers were ready to reinforce the new rule by fining smokers Bt2,000 and venue operators Bt20,000.

Police will act upon public complaints or the Public Health Ministry's request for inspection of entertainment establishments, rather than pressuring the establishments themselves, he said, adding that he believed all venues would give full cooperation.

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