Smokers, businesses forced to adapt to smoking ban

“Although the smoking ban will inevitably affect revenues, the measure is necessary to promote a smoke-free city and a healthy living environment,” said hotel spokeswoman Lee Chia-yen.

The ban, however, will come as a good news to non-smoking consumers who have long been tired of secondhand smoke.

International coffee retailer Starbucks has forbidden smoking since opening its first store in Taiwan 11 years ago, when a comprehensive ban on indoor smoking was rare.

Pioneers

“The move won the support of coffee lovers. Some even told us they had long hoped for a place free of cigarette smoke,” said Chuang Ching-ju, spokeswoman for Taiwan's Starbucks.

Compared with public establishments, workplaces are likely to cope better with the ban as most businesses have long prohibited smoking in offices.

One of the pioneers in this regard is the consumer electronics manufacturer Tatung Co., which has banned smoking since December 1987.

The company sets no smoking as one of its hiring criteria and prohibits employees from bringing cigarettes, matches or lighters to work. Employees who violate the ban twice or are found smoking on the job are dismissed.

Another company that has successfully purged smoking from the workplace is International Paint Taiwan, which is set to extend its smoking ban this year to cover outdoor areas. The company is also helping workers quit smoking through group therapy, with eight out of 20 participants having succeeded.

Trying harder

A provision to reward those who report violations of the ban will likely keep smokers and renegade establishments in check, especially in an era of unobtrusive cell phone cameras and the antipathy many have for smoking. Anyone who spots a violation of the ban can call it in on the hot line 0800-531-531. However, in order to receive the reward, the callers must provide accompanying evidence, such as photos of individuals or businesses caught in the act or the names of the violators, so that the authorities can levy a fine.

Ultimately, the new ban will probably motivate smokers to try harder to kick the habit.

Chen Hsin-chih, who works as a sales representative, said he has failed in his many attempts to quit smoking and will try to smoke less after the ban comes into force.

“I and other smoking colleagues used to smoke in the tea corner and stairwell in the office. Now, we will only be able to do so outdoors,” he said.

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