Jump to full article: Macau Daily Times (mo), 2008-05-16
Author: Thomas Schmid
Intro: 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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