Over 20,000 people fined over smoking in prohibited areas since 2012

Macau authorities have issued fines on a total of 21,733 occasions to people found to be smoking in prohibited areas, the Health Bureau revealed yesterday in a statement. From 2012 – when a new bill on smoking prevention and control came into force – until August 31 this year, authorities have fined over 20,000 people for smoking in prohibited areas, after having conducted a total of 599,390 inspections.
Between January this year and August, Health Bureau agents have recorded 5,405 law breaches. This year, authorities have conducted 184,235 inspections, with an average of 758 inspections per day.
In total, 5,387 people were caught smoking in prohibited areas; also recorded were six cases of the illegal sale of tobacco and 12 instances of sold tobacco failing to meet label standards.
Ninety-two percent of those caught smoking in public areas, were male (5,021 cases), whereas 6.8 percent were female (366 cases).
The Health Bureau revealed that 3,429 fines were issued to Macau residents (63.4 percent); 1,774 fines were issued to tourists (32.8 percent) and 184 offenses were committed by non-resident workers (3.4 percent).
A total of 1,025 cases of illegal smoking were uncovered in cybercafés, which remain common places for citizens to smoke without being permitted.
Venues where young people are accustomed to playing video games are also among the places where authorities recorded a high number of cases (989), representing 18.3 percent.
A total of 639 cases were detected in parks, gardens and other leisure premises.
Almost one-third, 31.2 percent, of offenses were committed within the Tap Seac area, and in 197 cases security police forces were called to intervene.
The Health Bureau said that since January, 4,366 people have paid fines.
The implementation of the law in gaming floors was also overseen by Macau’s Health Bureau, with agents conducting 302 inspections in the city’s casinos.
A total of 264 individuals were caught smoking in forbidden areas; 248 were male and 16 were female. Authorities issued fines to 211 tourists, 52 Macau residents and one foreign worker.
Macau will be implementing a full smoking ban on casino mass areas, effective from October 6. Early this month, the Health Bureau had received 39 final drafts of floor plans issued by casinos that will now have to add separate smoking rooms to their mass areas.
The six casino operators in Macau had suggested creating specific smoking rooms last year.  This measure was then adopted by the government.
SSM is confident that, by installing smoking rooms in casinos, air quality will improve, thereby reducing casino workers’ and other people’s exposure to tobacco smoke.
Customers in casinos’ mass areas will have to step outside to smoke if casinos fail to install smoking rooms by the deadline.
The Office for Tobacco Prevention and Control received 2,005 phone calls between January and August. Of these, 1,232 of these were complaints, 731 were requests for information, and 104 were made by citizens wishing to share suggestions.
The Health Bureau said in a statement that it encourages citizens to participate in smoking prevention and control activities, and to report offenses.  CP