Anti-smoking inspectors fined 918 people for illegally puffing away in the first six months of the year, the Health Bureau (SSM) said in a statement yesterday.
In Macau, smoking is barred in all indoor public venues and facilities, except smoking lounges in casinos and in the airport. In addition, smoking is also prohibited within a 10-metre-area of all public bus stops.
Illegal smoking carries a fixed fine of 1,500 patacas.
Moreover, smoking is only permitted in designated areas of public parks, gardens and recreational areas.
In addition to the 918 cases of smoking illegally, according to the statement, the bureau also fined seven violators for selling tobacco products with labels that did not comply with the officially required standards, six violators for selling tobacco products by directly displaying them on goods shelves, and two violators for selling e-cigarettes. Consequently, the bureau fined a total of 933 violators in the first six months of the year. All three kinds of offences, i.e., the 13 violations, are each punishable by a fixed fine of 4,000 patacas.
The sale of e-cigarettes is barred in Macau. A standing committee of the Legislative Assembly (AL) is currently reviewing a government-initiated Tobacco Prevention and Control Law amendment bill that proposes to also ban the manufacture, distribution, import and export of e-cigarettes, in addition to the current ban on their sale in the city.
According to yesterday’s statement, 175 out of the illegal smoking cases reported in the first six months occurred in restaurants and other eateries, while 145 were reported public parks, gardens and recreational areas.
In addition, Health Bureau officials in conjunction with Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) inspectors fined 31 violators for illegal smoking in casinos in the first half of the year, the statement said.
The statement also said that 834 out of the 933 violators in the first six months have meanwhile paid their respective fines.
The statement also urged smokers to quit smoking with the aim of increasing the effectiveness of their COVID-19 vaccinations.
This undated handout photo provided by the Health Bureau (SSM) yesterday shows its anti-smoking staff inspecting a cybercafe.
