Public Health Ministry plans strict measures against smoking
The Public Health Ministry reported yesterday that as many as 6 million people across the world die from smokingrelated diseases every year, and that 600,000 of these deaths are caused by secondhand smoke.
In Thailand, at least 48,000 people die from smokingrelated illnesses annually and that there are 13 million teenage smokers in the country. Since up to 69 per cent of the population inhales secondhand smoke at public places, 56 per cent at home and 31 per cent at the office, the ministry has decided to improve the 1992 NonSmoker’s Health Protection Act by including punishment such as the revocation of business licences and heavier fines as well as introducing measures to control young people’s access to cigarettes.
This report was presented to HRH Princess Somsavali who presided over the World No Tobacco Day 2012 opening ceremony at Pathum Thani’s Future Park Rangsit.
The Princess conferred the Regional Director’s Appreciation Award for World No Tobacco Day 2012 to eight people for running outstanding antitobacco campaigns in Southeast Asia, including two Thais: Khatha Bunditanukul, president of the pharmacist professional network for the tobacco control; and Karun Trakulpadetkrai, president of the Laryngectomy Association in Thailand. The Princess also presented shields of honour to 32 persons/organisations for their antitobacco campaigns.
Meanwhile, local authorities in Satun joined forces to destroy 584,000 illegal cigarettes worth Bt1.168 million that had been seized by customs officials since last October.
In addition, Disease Control Department chief Dr Pornthep Siriwanarangsan said his office would work with police to conduct random checks in public places, especially at markets and schools, where smoking is banned. Those caught smoking in these areas would face fines of up to Bt2,000 and the landlords would face up to a month in jail and/or Bt20,000 in fines.
