Holy Smoke? Smoking Only in Restricted Areas in Pubs, Bars, Hotels etc
Mangaluru: Lighting a cigarette will not be allowed at bars, pubs, hotels and restaurants in Karnataka if these places don’t have designated smoking areas, the state government has said in its latest order. Smoking will be allowed in the restricted area only after obtaining a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the civic body concerned.
Also, non-smokers and under 18 individuals should be prohibited from entering these areas. This move attempts to protect non-smokers from the dangers of passive smoking. Smoking will be allowed in the designated smoking areas only after obtaining a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the civic body concerned that will check whether the eatery has a seating capacity above 30. If the above rules are violated the restaurant/bar/pub stands to lose its license.
U T Khader warned saying, “Recent studies have shown that there is no safe level of second-hand smoking, we are concerned about the health of the staff who are working in hotels and bars, and customers. In light of all scientific evidences pointing out that second-hand smoking is as harmful as smoking, this issue needs to be addressed as priority. We have significant evidence from the world’s best cities that making smoke-free hotel environment improves the business”.
“We are confident that hotels and bars associations in state will welcome and support this initiative. Hotels, clubs and bars owe a legal and moral responsibility of protecting the right to health of their staff and customers,” Khader said. He also observed that fire safety is an equally important concern as that of health. According to the circular, the fire department had raised a concern about fire safety in bars and restaurants in a letter which states open fire sources like smoking are potential causes for fire hazards.
In 2008, the Supreme Court had banned smoking at public places, including auditoriums, cinemas, hospitals, public transport — aircraft, buses, trains, metros, monorails, taxis — airports, bus stands, railway stations, restaurants, hotels, bars, pubs, offices (government and private), libraries, courts, post offices, markets, shopping malls, banquet halls, discotheques, coffee houses etc across the country. After the order, one could smoke on roads, homes, personal vehicles and smoking rooms at bars and restaurants.
UT Khader, warned that any violations will result in cancellation of their licences under the Karnataka Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Health of Non-Smokers Act 2001.