Indoor Smoking Ban, Nine Smokers Fined
The new indoor smoking ban had a smooth start, authorities said, as nine people were fined for breaking the rules during the first day in which the new law came into effect. The Health Bureau’s tobacco control office launched an anti-smoking raid on Sunday and issued nine fines to residents and tourists. Together with the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau and the Public Security Police Force, the office checked 359 places where smoking cheap Beverly cigarette is no longer allowed according to the new law. A total of 70 law enforcement agents took part in the raid. From midnight to 7 pm on Sunday, nine people were fined, of which four were tourists from mainland China and five were Macau residents. Most people who received tickets were caught smoking inside food and beverage establishments, three in public gardens and one in a flyover.
According to a statement from the Health Bureau, operations that were held in northern Macau, namely in the Fai Chi Kei and Areia Preta districts, and in the Tap Seac area were the most significant. Meanwhile the newly established anti-smoking hotline received 47 calls, of which 33 were enquiries, 12 complaints and two opinions.
Officers were unable to respond to the complaints at the scene immediately, the head of the tobacco control office, Li Siu Tin, said in a press conference.
She promised to carry out more anti-smoking raids in the future. Overall, health authorities say residents have been cooperative and the law has been enforced smoothly.
Anger control
In a statement, the health bureau stressed that businesspeople have withdrawn ashtrays and posted official signs in their establishments, which, according to the bureau, “shows people’s expectations on a smoke-free environment”.
The signs are in Chinese, Portuguese and English languages and they include the maximum fine for people who break the smoking ban, MOP 600. In case the defendant pays the fine within two weeks the amount will be halved.
As for the establishments on which complaints had been made even before the new law came into force, “the tobacco control office conducted inspections there but they didn’t find any infringement,” the statement added.
The bureau said that operations went smoothly, even though there was a dispute with a resident who did not have his ID card.
The director of the Health Bureau, Lei Chin Ion, told reporters that inspectors are prepared to deal with angry smokers. “At the security school we taught them how to handle disputes; they already learned that,” he said, quoted by TDM News.
The new law bans smoking in most public places and indoor spaces, except casinos. Gaming operators have one year to create designated areas for smoking. Saunas, massage lounges, dance halls and bars will have three years to prepare for a full smoking-ban.
Meanwhile the government also introduced a tobacco tax increase of MOP 0.5 per cigarette last month, which means smokers will pay at least MOP 6 more per pack.
Taxes on tobacco in Macau will be MOP 10, around 38 percent of the retail price, which is still a far cry from Hong Kong prices, where one pack costs MOP 50, MOP 35 of which are taxes.
About The Author
Comments