Smoking ban in BVI to be enforced
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| Published on Friday, June 1, 2007 |
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ROAD TOWN, BVI: Minister for Health and Social Development Ronnie Skelton has told people in the British Virgin Islands of the regulations to mark the coming into force of the Territory’s new Tobacco Products Control Regulation.
On the day the international community observes World No Tobacco Day, the Minister also announced a transition period of three months so that establishments can put in place the necessary signage.
“Should we delay enforcing this Act as has been requested? No. A delay means no protection for the health of the non-smoking public or employees…. People will continue to inhale the toxic chemicals found in second-hand smoke.
“However, I am implementing a transition period of three months to allow businesses, employees and proprietors to put in place the necessary signage which ends on August 31, 2007,” he said.
Skelton said that during this transition period, establishments will be warned for violations, but will not be ticketed nor penalised.
Along with naming a number of jurisdictions which have laws against smoking in public places, the Minister explained the process by which these bans came into place.
“It was actually the World Health Organisation (WHO) that first addressed tobacco control through its Convention on Tobacco Control both from the supply and demand side. The convention requires price and tax increases on tobacco products, complete bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship and visible pictorial health warnings on all tobacco packages, the Minister said.
“The Organisation’s findings conclude that the only proven way to adequately protect the health of all people from the devastating effects of second-hand smoke is to have 100 percent smoke-free environments,” he added.
Skelton also said that several countries and hundreds of sub-national and local jurisdictions have reached this conclusion and successfully implemented laws that require almost all public places to be 100 percent smoke-free. “These jurisdictions report large and immediate health benefits showing that smoke-free environments are feasible and realistic,” he elaborated.
“What is interesting about many of these places is they introduced a partial smoking ban initially–– designating certain public places where smoking is prohibited and left the rest to the discretion of its people and within a relatively short period of time, these countries were forced to put in place more stringent, comprehensive smoke-free laws to improve health and reduce tobacco consumption,” he said.
Skelton further noted that studies completed on the effects of legislation requiring smoke-free restaurants showed no significant effect on revenue. “Studies replicated found conclusive proof that smoke-free air laws do not have adverse economic consequences for restaurants and bars and may in fact have positive effect the bottom line of these businesses,” he said.
The Legislative Council, on November 14, 2006 unanimously passed the Tobacco Product Control Act banning smoking in public places in the BVI.
Along with prohibiting smoking in offices, restaurants, bars and other such places, the Tobacco Product Control Act will regulate the promotion, distribution and use of tobacco products in the Territory. | | | | Reads : 6 |
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