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.