How do countries ban smoking?

America

The United States is a country with a very high rate of teenage smokers, so to limit the number from increasing every day, the US Government has issued a law banning the sale of cigarettes to people under 21 years old. Previously, the US also issued a regulation that only people over 18 years old are allowed to buy cigarettes.

Singapore

Singapore has banned smoking in public places such as buses, public toilets, and shopping malls since the 1970s. This ban has been extended to entertainment venues such as bars, restaurants, etc., and the owners of these venues are responsible for ensuring that their customers do not smoke. Singapore still allows the construction of separate smoking rooms, but they must not take up too much space.

You can only smoke in areas that have signs that say smoking is allowed. However, if you are caught smoking in a prohibited area, you may be fined between S$200 and S$1,000 and be sentenced in court.

Japan

In addition, in order to limit smoking, the Japanese Government has applied a policy of increasing taxes on cigarettes. Each type of cigarette in Japan has the same price at all locations and is extremely expensive, more than 460 Yen, equivalent to about 90,000 VND/pack, especially when buying in large quantities, there is no discount.

A machine checks the card certifying that one is 20 years old enough to buy cigarettes in Japan. Photo: Internet

Vending machines are quite common in Japan, however, to buy cigarettes here you must have a card certifying that you are at least 20 years old and if you violate the law you can be arrested and fined up to 10,000 Yen, about 2 million VND.

India

India is a country where more than 1 million people die each year from smoking, the rate of smokers in this country accounts for 12% of the world's smokers. Therefore, the propaganda against smoking is very focused on, in addition, the ban on smoking in public places is issued very strictly in India.

The most special thing is that India has a regulation banning all smoking scenes, cigarette advertisements in movies, TV shows, and even cigarette packs are not allowed to appear.

Spain

Spain has long had a smoking ban, but there are exceptions for clubs that allow smoking. Smoking is almost completely banned in playgrounds, outdoor areas in health centers and educational institutions.

Spain will also introduce a smoking ban in sports stadiums, bullfighting arenas and festivals in the future.

Slovakia

This is the country with the strangest anti-smoking laws in Europe. Smoking is banned in public places while smoking areas in bars and restaurants take up 50% of the total floor space.

Australia

Australia has some of the strictest smoking bans in the world. Almost every Australian state and territory has banned smoking in cars with children present, in public places and restaurants. Some local councils have also banned smoking on beaches and sporting grounds, with hefty fines.

Australia is required to present cigarette packs in a way that makes smoking less enjoyable, thereby reducing the amount of cigarettes smoked. Photo: Internet

This country is also known as the country with the most expensive cigarettes in the world. A box of 20 cigarettes sold in Australia costs up to 15.35 USD, equivalent to about 335 thousand VND.

Ireland

The Republic of Ireland was the first country in the world to introduce a complete anti-smoking law in 2004, and Scotland was the first country in the United Kingdom (Wale, Scotland, England, Northern Ireland) to follow suit. Smoking at work in Ireland can result in a fine of up to 3,347 USD.

Bhutan has recently been known as the first country in the world to ban smoking completely everywhere and in all forms. The peaceful country has a strong Buddhist influence and all development indicators are oriented towards people and nature.

Tobacco is not even grown here and only 1% of the population is reported to smoke. Foreigners can still smoke and import tobacco from abroad, but the government does not allow them to trade. To bring tobacco into the country, you will have to pay an additional 100% import tax. If you are a citizen and caught smoking, you will be fined up to 225 USD (nearly 5 million VND) or more.