Jump to full article: The Independent Online (IOL) (za), 2009-09-02
Intro: They've been a long time coming, but harsh new clampdowns on smoking have been signed into law by President Jacob Zuma, who is among the 78 percent of South African adults who don't smoke.
Owners of pubs, restaurants and workplaces who allow people to smoke in non-smoking areas may have sniffed at the paltry R200 fine they faced up to now, but may think twice of flouting the anti-puffing law now that the fine is R50 000.
Partially enclosed patios, balconies and walkways no longer qualify as open spaces, so smoking is out in those spots, too.
Parents can no longer subject their children to smoke-infested areas of restaurants, and adults may not smoke in a car if any of the passengers are under 12. . . .
It's now also illegal for the cigarette companies to stage "by invitation only" parties or use "viral" marketing to target young people - tactics the industry has resorted to since 2000 when advertising was banned. . . .
If the following post on a local blog is anything to go by, it's a strategy that's worked for them. In answer to the question "which brand do you smoke?" someone shared this: "I used to smoke Stuyvesant red. Then one day at RAU these super hot chickies were doing promos for Rothmans so I signed up!
"Ever since then they've been sending me two packs a month and free lighters, free stuff and party invites! Been smoking Rothmans ever since!"
More big changes are expected in the coming months . . .
Interestingly, two weeks after being ordered by US federal court judge Gladys Kessler to publicise the dangers of smoking and to stop marketing so-called "light" and "mild" cigarettes as healthier than others, the tobacco companies returned to court to effectively ask the judge if they could carry on deceiving their overseas markets about "light" and "low-tar" cigarettes.
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