15 September 2009.
A new smoking law, passed on the 31 August 2009, will further restrict smokers from lighting cigarettes in public places.
President Jacob Zuma assented to the
Tobacco Products Control Amendment Act, No. 23 of 2007, which bans smoking in partially enclosed areas of restaurants, pubs and bars. Smokers who breach this Act can now be fined up to R500, and owners of places where this breach occurs can be fined up to a maximum R50 000.
The amendment to the Act also aims to reduce smoking in the presence of children. According to the Act, adults are prohibited from smoking in a motor vehicle with children under the age of 12 present in the vehicle. Smoking has also been banned from any domestic dwelling which is also used for commercial child care activities, such as schooling, tutoring or extra-mural activities. Children under the age of 18 have also been banned from entering designated smoking areas, including children accompanied by adults.
East Coast Radio Newswatch reports that there are mixed feelings about this recent amendment to the Act. The station’s listeners express that they feel the government is misdirecting its energy into tightening smoking laws, while there are more serious crime issues to attend to.
According to an article on
IOL News, there is concern amongst Durban restaurant owners who fear that this law will have a negative impact on their businesses. However, if the law is enforced everywhere, effects on business operations in restaurants, pubs and bars should be minimal.
On the other hand, there are many South Africans who have welcomed the change to the smoking laws. A mailer from the
Restaurant Association of South Africa points out that the reduction in smoking will hopefully help smokers quit, it will reduce air pollution and reduce the detriment to the health of second-hand smokers, particularly children.
