Countdown starts for smoking law

Officials at the Department of Health (DOH) has started the countdown for the enforcement of the more restrictive anti-smoking regulations that will take effect after 43 days.

Stepped-up crackdowns on violators will follow the conclusion of the countdown on Jan. 11, 2009.

Smoking has long been prohibited at many public places, including schools, inside buses, and public transport systems.

Under the new rules, smoking is not permitted at all places with more than three people, including offices, restaurants, KTV facilities, etc.

Smokers will have to go outdoors or face fines ranging from NT$2,000 to NT$10,000.

Operators of commercial and recreational facilities will also be fined for violating the new rules.

DOH officials said they have received many calls inquiring the exact boundaries for non-smoking areas.

After a detailed counting, they said there are a total of 12 scenes related to smoking in the “Cape No. 7” — a locally produced blockbuster that has smashed all previous box office records.

Total revenues generated from the movie, including properties used in the films and their copies as well as artifacts related to the story continue to snowball. There are also special tours themed on the scenes of the movies offered by the travel agencies.

But health officials warned that people should not imitate the smoking scenes in the office and hotel as well as on the beach and on the ship’s deck as depicted in the film because such acts are not allowed under the new rules.

They explained that the deck on the boat is regarded as indoors and smokers in need of having a drag on the beach should go to designated smoking areas.

Smoking is banned at public places like the Taipei Arena which has a giant dome that forms a closed area.

According to the new rules, revelers attending large-scale gatherings like the New Year’s Eve gathering at the Taipei 101 Tower can also be fined.

But officials said the problem can be solved as organizers will designate smoking areas to help reduce the impact on non-smokers to the minimum.

To help smokers and business owners who run restaurants or coffee shops better understand the new rules in the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act, the DOH has set up a toll-free phone line — 0800-531-531 — to provide information and answer their questions.

People may also use the line to report smokers who refuse to snuff off their cigarettes after being advised to do so, the officials said.

Yet the best way to cope with the rules is to give up smoking, they said.

They suggested that employers better utilize the human resources department to encourage and help their staff to cut down or quit smoking in order to create a non-smoking environment.

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