Most night spots stick to smoking rules: survey
A survey of smokers' habits by Mahidol University has found a high percentage of entertainment venues enforce no-smoking laws on their premises, while less than half of all smokers complied with them, activists reported at a Bangkok media conference yeste
The activists said the no-smoking laws would not be effective if smokers were not subject to fines, while venues would be unwilling to be harsh on their smoking customers.
In the survey conducted at three key entertainment strips in Bangkok and one in Pattaya, 67.7 per cent of venues were “active” in upholding no-smoking laws, while 59.5 per cent did so in Pattaya, said Assoc Prof Phimphawal Bunmongkhol.
The percentage of smokers complying and not complying with the law were close – 46 and 47 per cent respectively – while regular violators numbered 6 per cent. The number of participants and duration of the survey were not available.
Most smokers choose filtered cigarettes (86.6 per cent), while 12.9 per cent smoke baraku (water pipe) tobacco and 7 per cent choose hand-rolled cigarettes.
The survey found restrictions on cigarette promotion, on-site advertising at location and glamorous portrayals of smoking were loosely enforced by owners of concert venues.