Smoking in Thailand

In November 2002, Thailand passed a smoke free law that banned smoking inside all air-conditioned buildings. Thailand has one of the lowest smoking rates in all of Asia with only 23% of the poulation being smokers and of them only 2.4% are women. As of February 2008 smoking is now banned in all air conditioned bars and nightclubs as well, although it is still allowed in outside beer bars.

If you are a smoker planning a trip to Thailand keep this in mind as there are stiff fines for non compliance. The smoker can be fined 2000 baht ($60.00) and the bar owner can be fined upwards of 20,000 baht ($600).

Also keep in mind that in Bangkok there are stiff littering fines so if you’re outside smoking make sure the butt hits a trashcan or you’ll be facing a 2000 baht ($60) fine if caught.

If you are planning on bringing your own cigarettes into the country Thailand only allows 200 cigarettes per person and anything more than that may be confiscated and you may be fined. To be honest I haven’t had my bags checked coming in but the customs police do tend to check people coming off the plane with duty free bags to make sure you haven’t brought in excess cigarettes and or alcohol. When you get in the plane put your duty free bag in your carry on and you should be fine.

You can buy most major brand names of cigarettes in Thailand but they are usually made in the region and of lesser quality than you are used to.

You also want to check with the hotel or hotels you will be staying in as certain hotels don’t allow smoking on the premises.

All in all the Thai’s have been very diligent on keeping smoking down in their own people and now they are helping their people more by banning smoking in the air conditioned bars and clubs where they work. Anyone that has been in the bars and clubs before the ban can tell you the smoke was so thick you could cut it with a knife.

And of course there are the public advertising campaigns showing smoking in a bad light as well as the mandated pictures on the cigarette packs, pictured above, in hopes to help the Thai’s that do smoke and the foreingers visiting think about their own health as well as others.
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