Restaurant owners gripe as smoking ban takes effect in Thailand

Restaurant owners gripe as smoking ban takes effect in Thailand

Agence France-Presse, Bangkok

Thai restaurant owners complained Sunday of a drop-off in trade after the first weekend under a strict new ban on smoking in public places.

But managers at some eating spots said they were optimistic the shortfall would soon be reversed thanks to increased trade from non-smoking patrons who had avoided tobacco-filled restaurants.

The new law also bans people lighting up in department stores, Internet cafes, public phone booths, beauty parlors, religious places, air conditioned fitness centers, and public toilets, as well as on public transport.

However, the new regulation will not affect Bangkok's famed nightlife districts, as bars and discos where food is not sold will be exempt.

Businesses who violate the ruling which came into effect Friday can be hit with a 20,000 baht (US$480) fine and anyone caught smoking on the premises will have to pay up 2,000 baht.

The Muaklek Steak and Music House, a 300-seat restaurant on busy Sukhumvit Road, reported a 40 percent decrease in customers on Friday and Saturday night after the ban came into effect.

"A lot of our regular customers complained and said they won't come as often any more because it's inconvenient to walk outside to smoke," said manager Ithikorn Khambha.

"We had to inform customers that their cigarettes could cost them 2,000 baht each and they said they would stay at home and smoke as much as they want."

At See Fah Restaurant in the Siam Square shopping and entertainment district, manager Prisana Suwan said about 20 percent of their regular customers had disappeared over the weekend.

"But overall, even though the restaurant lost this group, it has got new customers instead so I don't think it will affect business too much," she said.

At Greyhound Cafe in the up-scale Emporium department store, spokesman Utayan Soopasuk reported a drop-off in trade over the weekend but said it was too soon to tell how much they would be affected.

"Our restaurant was the only place in Emporium that allowed customers to smoke, but since last Friday customers know they can't come here to smoke any more so we will lose that group," he said.

The ban is part of a get-tough policy by Thailand's health ministry which is concerned about the impact of smoking -- the major cause of death in the kingdom after HIV-AIDS, accidents, and tuberculosis.

The ministry also wants to introduce a series of pack labels featuring graphic pictures of organs damaged by smoking along with harsher text warnings.