The regulations that are… ignored: Smoking ban in public places - Some are strict, some are lax

Nearly 13 years after the Law on Tobacco Harm Prevention came into effect, the smoking rate among men over 15 years old in Vietnam has dropped to below 39%. According to a report by the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund, the rate of exposure to tobacco smoke in public places after more than 12 years is still high. Smokers not only endanger themselves but also those around them.

Not much reduction

Lieutenant Colonel, Doctor Nguyen Xuan Thanh, Military Hospital 175 , shared that according to the results from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), cigarette smoke contains approximately 7,000 chemical compounds, of which at least 69 are carcinogenic, including 11 chemicals classified as group 1 (a group of substances that have been proven to definitely cause cancer in humans). Smokers are 25 times more likely to develop lung cancer than non-smokers.

Smoking not only causes lung cancer but also leads to many other types of cancer such as: nose, mouth, larynx, trachea, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, kidney, bladder, cervix, bone marrow and blood. In addition, smokers are susceptible to cardiovascular disease, dental disease, blindness, impotence, etc.

Not only smokers but also those around them who inhale cigarette smoke and passive smoking are affected. In 2012, the State issued the Law on Prevention of Tobacco Harms, aiming to limit smokers, but the number of patients coming to see a doctor for treatment due to smoking has not decreased much.

Many people still smoke in places where smoking is prohibited.

At some crowded places where smoking is prohibited in the city such as Gia Dinh Hospital (Binh Thanh District), Binh Dan Hospital (District 3), Military Hospital 175 and Saigon Railway Station waiting room (District 3), Mien Dong Bus Station (Thu Duc City), many people strictly followed the law. Our observations showed that a passenger sitting in the Mien Dong Bus Station waiting room took a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket, looked around, then put the pack in his pocket, and walked out to find a place to smoke.

The number of smokers in medical facilities, schools, and offices has decreased significantly, but they are concentrated in eateries, restaurants, and crowded places. At BS restaurant (Hiep Binh Chanh ward, Thu Duc city), many diners were eating and smoking. The smoke rose up and covered the surroundings. Female customers at the surrounding tables had to change seats to avoid the smoke. Going around the big restaurants on Street 10 in the same ward such as GC, C.D..., many diners were smoking in public.

The staff of TK restaurant on Hong Ha street (Phu Nhuan district) said that the restaurant has regulations on smoking areas and places cigarette butt containers according to regulations. When entering the restaurant, the customer followed the instructions and left the room to smoke. However, after drinking five or seven bottles of beer, the customer took out the cigarette to light up. At that time, the staff told the customer not to listen, and the restaurant was trying to please the customer, so the whole room was filled with the smell of cigarettes.

Increased fines

Smoking is not only harmful to public health but also wasteful and affects the spending of each family. Many smokers know very well the risks of cigarette smoke to themselves and the community.

To limit smokers and passive smokers, the State has issued many legal documents to prevent such as the Law on Prevention of Tobacco Harms, Decree No. 117/2020 stipulating administrative sanctions in the health sector, Circular No. 11/2023-BYT stipulating the implementation of smoking-free areas and considering awarding tobacco-free environment awards. Although there are many regulations, the number of smokers has not decreased much, it is just a change in smoking locations.

Many people still smoke in public places.

According to Dr. Tran Quy, Director of the Vietnam Institute for Digital Economic Development, the reason why many smokers and addicts have difficulty quitting is because the price of cigarettes in our country is cheap and easy to buy and sell. Currently, each pack of cigarettes costs an average of 10-20 thousand VND, so anyone can buy it.

Meanwhile, in Singapore, cigarette prices are 10 times higher than in our country, while in the United States, a pack of cigarettes costs around 10 USD. High cigarette prices and difficult purchasing conditions will help limit people from smoking.

According to lawyer Nguyen Van Khoi, Vietnam Legal Consulting Center, Central Lawyers Association, the Law on Prevention of Tobacco Harms has been in effect for nearly 13 years, but because the fine for smoking in public places is still too low and the price of cigarettes is cheap and easy to buy, the number of smokers is still high. To prevent people from smoking in public places, the government needs to have a "Decree 168" in the fields of health and environment, sharply increasing the price of cigarettes and fines.

According to Article 25 of Decree 117/2020/ND-CP, administrative penalties for violations of regulations on places where smoking is prohibited are a warning or a fine of VND 200,000 to VND 500,000 for people who smoke in places where smoking is prohibited.

While the fine is heavy, from 3 million to 5 million VND for the act of not having the words or symbol "no smoking" in a place where smoking is prohibited, the fine is from 5 million to 10 million VND for one of the following acts (in a place reserved for smokers) not having a room and ventilation system separate from the non-smoking area, not having a container for samples, cigarette butts...

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Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/nhung-quy-dinh-bi-lon-cam-hut-thuoc-la-noi-cong-cong-cho-nghiem-cho-long-leo-post798165.html