The problem of smoking in public places, more drastic action is needed

According to statistics from the Ministry of Health , each year in Vietnam there are about 85.5 thousand deaths due to tobacco use and more than 18.8 thousand deaths due to passive smoking. In addition, there are up to 25 diseases related to tobacco such as: stroke, coronary artery disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer... which are the leading causes of death in our country.

Smoking is still common in public places such as bus stations, bus stops, and parks. Some young people at the bus station in Bien Hoa city shared their uncomfortable feeling of having to inhale cigarette smoke from others. Ms. Minh Anh (20 years old, student at Lac Hong University) said: "Every time I wait for the bus, I often have to endure the smell of cigarette smoke from others, which makes me very uncomfortable and worried about my health, as well as the health of those around me, especially the elderly and children."

Many opinions suggest that it is necessary to replicate the “Say No to Tobacco” models that have been effectively applied in schools, hospitals or administrative agencies where smoking is absolutely prohibited. These are environments that have shown clear effectiveness when there is strict supervision and good awareness from the community.

According to Decree 117/2020/ND-CP dated September 28, 2020 of the Government regulating administrative sanctions in the health sector, smoking in prohibited places will be fined from 200,000 to 500,000 VND. Prohibited places include: medical facilities, schools, public workplaces, public transport, children's playgrounds, areas with high risk of fire and explosion... In addition, individuals or organizations managing public places who do not remind and handle violators can also be fined from 5 to 10 million VND. Strict and regular enforcement of these regulations is a key factor in improving the current situation of smoking in public places.

To solve this problem, close coordination between authorities and the community is needed. It is necessary to strengthen propaganda andeducation on the harmful effects of tobacco, especially among young people. At the same time, there must be close supervision and strict handling of violations to create a healthy living environment for everyone.

Le Duy

 

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/ban-doc/202505/van-nan-hut-thuoc-la-noi-cong-cong-can-hanh-dong-quyet-liet-hon-2173181/