To bring the Law on Prevention of Tobacco Harms into life

(Baonghean) -The Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms has officially come into effect since May 1, 2013. The Law stipulates measures to reduce the demand for tobacco use, control the supply of tobacco and ensure conditions to prevent tobacco harms... However, up to this point, many people are still vague and have not properly implemented the Law. Reality shows that in order for the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms to truly come into life, it is necessary to have drastic and synchronous participation from functional agencies as well as all people.

The introduction and implementation of the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms is considered necessary to ensure health and improve the quality of life for people. Accordingly, those who smoke in public places and medical facilities will be fined from 200,000 to 500,000 VND and those who sell or provide tobacco to people under 18 years old will be fined from 500,000 to 1 million VND.

The law also stipulates that cigarettes cannot be sold outside the gates of nurseries, kindergartens, primary schools, secondary schools, high schools, hospitals, etc. within a radius of 100m. And citizens have the right to request that smoking not be allowed in places where smoking is prohibited. Each person also has the right to request competent authorities to handle people who smoke in places where smoking is prohibited; to report or denounce competent authorities to handle smoking in places where smoking is prohibited. The Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms stipulates a fine of 3 - 5 million VND for establishment owners who do not hang signs with the words or symbols "no smoking" in places where smoking is prohibited, and do not request violators to stop smoking in their establishments.

For the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms to come into effect, through discussion, most people highly agreed. Many office workers were very happy, especially women. Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu, an official, enthusiastically said: “Currently, people's awareness is not high, in offices, hospitals or even in clinics, people still smoke. If this Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms is well implemented, we will be very happy, no longer having to suffer the effects of cigarette smoke in public places”… Many long-time smokers also expressed their support for the Law. Mr. Ho Van Trung, in Cua Nam Ward, Vinh City, said: “I myself know the harm of smoking and smoking in crowds is disrespectful to everyone. If the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms really comes into effect, that will be the motivation for me to quit smoking.”

However, through actual surveys, in the first days of implementing the Law, there were still many people who were not aware of the harmful effects of tobacco on themselves and those around them. At hospitals in the province such as the General Friendship Hospital, the Oncology Hospital, the Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital... although there were signs prohibiting smoking and pictures warning of the harmful effects of tobacco on health posted in the premises and corridors of examination and treatment areas, especially, doctors and nurses also reminded, but there were still many patients' relatives who did not strictly comply with the no smoking in the hospital... Besides, there are many grocery stores selling tobacco right next to schools and the sale of tobacco to students under 18 years old still occurs.

Students gathered to smoke in front of the gate of Ha Huy Tap High School (Vinh City).
Photo: Thanh Nga

Mr. Tran Hong Hiep, a grocery store owner near Nguyen Truong To High School, explained his violation of the Law: “I have heard about the fine for smoking in public places before, but I have not seen it implemented. This time, I have only heard about it on the radio and newspapers, but I have not yet been given specific details about my duties and responsibilities. Vendors like us hope to receive more information about the Law.”

The public is asking: Which functional force or agency will go to inspect and control the age of people buying and using tobacco? Mr. Truong Van Hai, a retired official in Hung Phuc ward, Vinh city, said: Article 32 of the Law, although stipulating the responsibility for handling violations of the law on preventing and combating the harmful effects of tobacco, has clear decentralization and delegation of authority; but in reality, up to now, the more agencies are responsible, the fewer people do it. Previously, in 2010, the Prime Minister also issued Decision 1315 regulating the ban on smoking in public places. However, the effectiveness has not been as expected due to the lack of synchronization and seriousness in implementation... In order for the Law to come into effect, Mr. Hai and many others suggest that everyone needs to actively participate, which is to increase widespread propaganda about the Law, the harmful effects of tobacco and behaviors related to tobacco, especially in rural areas, mountainous areas, remote areas, and islands so that people can self-regulate their behavior. In order for people to be self-aware and comply with smoking in the right places, not selling cigarettes to children under 18 years old, along with propaganda and reminders, the authorities need to severely punish those who intentionally violate the law.

Implementing the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms and responding to the National No Smoking Week in 2013, like many other provinces and cities, Nghe An has issued a plan with specific implementation contents: Organizing information and propaganda on the contents of the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms, educating the community about the harmful effects of tobacco; Directing the inclusion of tobacco harm prevention contents in the annual action plans of districts, towns, cities, communes, wards and townships; including regulations prohibiting smoking in the workplace in the internal regulations of agencies; Encouraging the inclusion of regulations on limiting or not smoking in weddings, funerals and festivals; integrating the construction of cultural - health villages with the construction of residential communities without smokers; Strengthening the inspection and examination of compliance with the regulations prohibiting smoking at locations as prescribed by the Law; banning the sale of cigarettes, advertising, sponsorship promotions and other provisions of the Law...

Hopefully, the Plan to implement the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms and respond to the National No Smoking Week 2013 of the Provincial People's Committee will be well implemented, contributing to raising people's awareness, helping each individual have the right perception of the harmful effects of tobacco.

Thanh Chung