Research on 'off-the-cuff' fines for smoking violators

The Ministry of Health is researching a mechanism to "fine" smokers in order to contribute to improving the effectiveness of State management.

The Law on Tobacco Harm Prevention has been in effect for more than four years, but smoking in prohibited areas is still widespread and blatant. Meanwhile, only a few dozen violators have been punished.

Faced with this situation, the Ministry of Health is researching a "cold fine" mechanism to contribute to improving the effectiveness of State management.

Many people smoke right in the hospital (Photo: Kim Anh)

The country currently has about 15 million smokers and about 75 million non-smokers who can still inhale secondhand smoke at home and in public places.

Article 7 of the Law on Prevention of Tobacco Harms stipulates that citizens have the right to live and work in an environment free of cigarette smoke; at the same time, they have the obligation to request smokers not to smoke in places where smoking is prohibited, and to report or denounce competent authorities and individuals who do not handle smoking in places where smoking is prohibited. However, it seems that few people are interested in exercising the above rights and obligations.

Meanwhile, authorities say it is difficult to punish those who violate the ban on smoking in public places. When authorities arrive at the scene, smokers quickly leave or throw their cigarette butts on the ground to erase the evidence.

Therefore, over the past 4 years, only a few dozen cases have been punished. Currently, instead of directly punishing violators, health inspectors have shifted their focus to handling restaurant and hotel owners and managers of public places where smoking occurs.

Ms. Phan Thi Hai, Deputy Director of the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund (Ministry of Health) said that in the long term, the form of "cold fines" will be applied: "Currently, we are studying to issue a cold fine mechanism like in Singapore, which means that we only need to take a photo with the full name of the facility where the violation occurred or the person who smoked and the violations of the Law on Tobacco Harm Prevention to impose a fine"./.

According to VOV.VN