Anti-smoking rules are enforced
A survey of smokers’ habits by Mahidol University claims that nearly 60% of entertainment places in Pattaya are enforcing the anti-smoking rules. The research was conducted along the resort’s Walking Street and other prime-time fun spots and claimed that 59.9% of businesses obeyed the law because of the threat of being fined. However, no details were made available of the research strategy and some commentators are not convinced.
“To say that most businesses on Walking Street observe the no smoking regulations is rather like saying they don’t have any prostitutes either. Some clubs are packed with smokers in the late evenings and it’s the nonsmokers who have to sit outside,” said one night club proprietor. He added that local authority officials with the power to fine seldom made an appearance. “The legislation is self-enforced which means it’s often ignored,” he added.
The research also said that 87% of smokers used filter cigarettes, with much smaller numbers choosing baraku (water pipe) or hand-rolled cigarettes. The survey found restrictions on cigarette promotion and on-site advertising were usually obeyed, except that the owners of concert venues ignored them altogether. This may have been because of the high number of young people attending musical events.
