Smoke Gets in Your Eyes

(3/30/2012)

Bali is preparing to lead a nation-wide movement to establish no-smoking areas in most public places. A provincial law will come into effect on June 1, 2012, that will make enclosed building spaces off grounds to smoking, including hotels and nightspots. The law also strictly regulates advertising of tobacco products.

In explaining the new rules to Beritabali.com, Nyoman Sutedja, the head of the Bali Health Service, said that hotels would initially be given designations as smoking and non-smoking hotels.

According to Kompas.com, the new anti-smoking rules will be introduced starting with accommodation providers and spreading over time to include restaurants and nightspots.

Plans are afoot to grade nightspot and hotel with a “blue code” for 100% smoke-free environments and a “yellow code” for establishment where smoking is only allowed in designated areas.

Apparently there will be whole basket of different anti-smoking rules passed by the governor, regents and mayors of Bali. What effect this large range of rules emanating from varying sources will have on eventual enforcement remains to be seen.

Sutedja also said the non-smoking rule would take effect on June 1, 2012, in all government buildings, with those found smoking subject to fines.

Bali’s governor Made Mangku Pastika publicly supports the adoption of smoke-free policies in Bali. Pastika elaborated: “It’s not because of the regulations, but the growing understanding among individuals, families and the general public about the health implications. Based on the data, one person dies every second somewhere in the world because of cigarette smoking.”