2 years ago today, Thailand joined the rest of the evolving world and banned smoking in all air-conditioned nightclubs, pubs, lounges, bars, and open-air restaurants and markets.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
For those of us that prefer to go out, but prefer to avoid the carcinogens of second-hand smoke, let alone the stinky smelly residue, this ban continues to be a source of thankfulness.
Sure, most bar and pub owners initially feared that this ban would drive guests away, but this has not been the case in Thailand or anywhere else in the world. Yes, cigarette revenues have dropped significantly (a lower ended source of revenue), but the initial fear that guests would stop going out to venues that abided by the new laws, has never materialized beyond those initial doomsday prophecies. In fact, most venues would agree that people have adjusted nicely and that the majority of the guests are appreciative of these bans and the resulting cleaner air. Some venues would even argue that revenues have increased as guests are staying longer because they are actually enjoying the smoke-free environment even better.
Bangkok has years to go before these bans are widely recognized throughout all clubs and restaurants, however. There are still numerous pubs and night clubs that have simply ignored the smoking bans, but I know of no club that has been hit with the 20,000 penalty for allowing smoking on their premises. Without much official enforcement, the choice of whether or not to allow smoking or not seems to be up to the venue, although the more high-profile the venue, the more obligation to abide by these laws.
Enjoy the cleaner air. Well, that is unless you’re cycling along Sukhumvit. Those busses and tuk tuks will be addressed next.
Justin Dunne
