Monday July 10, 2006
Smoking ban at eateries takes effect
FIVE men sit on plastic chairs huddled around a pillar outside the hawker centre at Block 85 in Redhill Lane – smoking.
The concrete base of the pillar serves as a table for their four cups of tea and a bottle of beer. The food centre is far from packed, but this is the only way they can continue their nightly get-togethers these days.
On July 1, the National Environment Agency (NEA) barred smoking in all food outlets – air-conditioned or otherwise – except in designated areas. These smoking zones can occupy no more than 20% of the outdoor seating.
The ban marks the latest in a string of initiatives aimed at combating the problem of second-hand smoke. Smoking was first outlawed in bus shelters and interchanges, public pools and toilets, community clubs and open-air stadiums last October. Pubs and clubs will be next come July 1 next year.
Those who flout the law can be fined S$200 (RM460). In the first few days of the ban, five offending smokers were made to pay up after refusing to heed warnings by NEA officers to stub out. – The Straits Times / Asia News Network
News Poll
- Man posted doctored photos of Nik Aziz
- Heartbreaking wait for mum
- The world just got bigger
- Sodomy II: Karpal claims judge lied (Updated)
- Opposition leaders decry court’s ruling
- Thumbs-up for Najib
- Weather warning for Perak, Selangor and Sabah
- 5-0 for BN’s Zambry
- Saiful files report over death threat
- WWF: Orang asli being used
- 60 lose RM25mil in gold investment scam
- Canberra to set new skills list
- MAS offers CNY bargains
- Fleet card cloning ring busted with arrest of trio
- WWF: Orang asli being used
- Vietnamese plumber fined RM10,000 over RM75 bribe
- ‘Flashing candy’ a health hazard: Health Ministry
- Sodomy II: Karpal claims judge lied (Updated)
- Toyota puts the brakes on problem
- Manila joins hunt for Semporna gunmen
RSS
