The Health Bureau (SSM) released on Friday its “2021-2023 Report on Tobacco Prevention and Control Programme”, proposing a study on tightening smoking curbs in public places – and SSM Deputy Director Cheang Seng Ip told reporters later that day that, in the absence of amendments to Macau’s Tobacco Control Law, the bureau was “preliminarily considering” coordinating with various public entities to set up no-smoking areas and designated smoking zones in specific crowded public areas, such as the Barrier Gate Plaza and Ruins of St Paul’s.
Cheang referenced public opinion expressing a desire to ban smoking while walking and described the issue as “particularly serious”. He acknowledged that amending the existing Tobacco Control Act was the only effective way to regulate such smoking behaviour, though he noted that the process would take time.
Cheang went on to say that given the “urgency” of the situation, the bureau hopes to achieve its tobacco control objectives through the existing coordination mechanisms in conjunction with relevant public entities. Initially, according to Cheang, consideration has been given to designating specific smoking areas in densely populated streets or locations with particularly high pedestrian traffic, especially in areas frequented by tourists.
Cheang also pointed out the narrowness of Macau’s streets and the need for more coordination among relevant public entities and civic organisations, adding that the details were still under discussion.
According to the bureau’s “2021-2023 Report on Tobacco Prevention and Control Programme”, the prevalence of traditional tobacco use, excluding e-cigarettes, among young local people aged 13 to 15 has gradually decreased from 9.5 percent in 2010 to 3.8 percent in 2021. Additionally, the prevalence of tobacco and related products among the population aged 15 and above in Macau has also declined. However, the smoking rate among women has shown a slight increase, the report points out.
The report addresses the bureau’s tobacco regulation initiatives, the use and import of tobacco and electronic cigarettes in Macau, as well as tobacco control measures in local casinos. Cheang noted that efforts to control smoking in casinos have been effective, and the bureau currently has no plans to amend its tobacco control measures in casinos, nor is there a timetable for revising the Tobacco Control Law as a whole. Regarding tobacco tariffs, Cheang also emphasised that there were no plans to increase tobacco tariffs for the time being.
The report indicates that the rise in the overall smoking rate is primarily due to the higher smoking rate among foreigners living in Macau. Lam Chong, who heads the bureau’s (SSM) Tobacco and Alcohol Prevention and Control Office, said that the bureau will implement targeted measures, including promoting tobacco control among foreigners who do not speak Chinese or Portuguese.
In response to the gradual emergence of new tobacco products and non-tobacco products such as hookahs* and herbal cigarettes in recent years, Lam stressed the necessity of amending the law to restrict the circulation of such products in Macau as soon as possible.
* Hookahs, also known as water pipes, are devices used for smoking flavoured tobacco. While some perceive hookah smoking as less harmful than cigarettes, it still poses significant health risks due to the inhalation of toxic substances and nicotine. – DeepSeek
This photo taken yesterday shows a smoker holding a cigarette when walking along a street in the city centre. – Photo: Yuki Lei
