Bars And Public Places To Demarcate Smoking Zones
Mar 15, 2004
SMOKING will be allowed in demarcated areas in restaurants, bars, public places of lodging and discotheques.<br>
By Anne Mugisa
SMOKING will be allowed in demarcated areas in restaurants, bars, public places of lodging and discotheques.
Smoking offences, according to the National Environment Management Agency (NEMA), will attract a minimum fine of sh50,000 and a maximum of sh300,000 imposed on the owner of the premises who violates the regulations.
The offending smokers will also be fined a minimum of sh20,000 and a maximum of sh100,000.
NEMA executive director Dr. Aryamanya Mugisha told journalists yesterday that adverse effects of smoking, especially passive smoking, include respiratory illness which shortens life, high blood pressure and reduced vision, among others.
NEMA has also listed the strictly no-smoking areas as; offices, office buildings and work places including individual offices, public areas, corridors, lounges, eating areas, reception areas, lifts, escalators, foyers, stairways, toilets, laundries and amenity areas.
The others are factories, hospitals, clinics and other health institutions, education institutions of all levels and premises where children are catered for.
Also listed are public places of worship, prisons, Police cells, Public Service vehicles and any other means of public transportation, public transportation terminals, including airports, airfields, retail establishments, including markets and shopping malls, cinemas, theatrical performance halls and sports stadia.
NEMA said proprietors of areas where smoking was allowed must strictly partition the smoking rooms from ceiling to floor and clearly mark them “Smoking area.â€
Non-smoking areas must have clear signs, according to NEMA.
The signs must be at least 19cm by 19cm with the “No Smoking†sign in words accompanied by a picture of a cigarette in a red circle with a red line.
It said the text must cover 80% of the sign and the signs must be posted throughout the premises.
NEMA also said owners of public places or public transportation must take all reasonable steps to ensure that no smoker violates the regulations.
The agency said the owners must first ask the person to stop smoking. If he fails they demand that he leaves the premises or the vehicle. If all fails, the owner must then ask an environment inspector or other authorised officer including the police to arrest the offender.
It said any employee who refuses to enter smoking areas while smoking is going on shall not be victimised by the owner.
NEMA also said local governments must make laws to protect non-smokers and environmental inspectors must help to implement them.
Ends
SMOKING will be allowed in demarcated areas in restaurants, bars, public places of lodging and discotheques.
Smoking offences, according to the National Environment Management Agency (NEMA), will attract a minimum fine of sh50,000 and a maximum of sh300,000 imposed on the owner of the premises who violates the regulations.
The offending smokers will also be fined a minimum of sh20,000 and a maximum of sh100,000.
NEMA executive director Dr. Aryamanya Mugisha told journalists yesterday that adverse effects of smoking, especially passive smoking, include respiratory illness which shortens life, high blood pressure and reduced vision, among others.
NEMA has also listed the strictly no-smoking areas as; offices, office buildings and work places including individual offices, public areas, corridors, lounges, eating areas, reception areas, lifts, escalators, foyers, stairways, toilets, laundries and amenity areas.
The others are factories, hospitals, clinics and other health institutions, education institutions of all levels and premises where children are catered for.
Also listed are public places of worship, prisons, Police cells, Public Service vehicles and any other means of public transportation, public transportation terminals, including airports, airfields, retail establishments, including markets and shopping malls, cinemas, theatrical performance halls and sports stadia.
NEMA said proprietors of areas where smoking was allowed must strictly partition the smoking rooms from ceiling to floor and clearly mark them “Smoking area.â€
Non-smoking areas must have clear signs, according to NEMA.
The signs must be at least 19cm by 19cm with the “No Smoking†sign in words accompanied by a picture of a cigarette in a red circle with a red line.
It said the text must cover 80% of the sign and the signs must be posted throughout the premises.
NEMA also said owners of public places or public transportation must take all reasonable steps to ensure that no smoker violates the regulations.
The agency said the owners must first ask the person to stop smoking. If he fails they demand that he leaves the premises or the vehicle. If all fails, the owner must then ask an environment inspector or other authorised officer including the police to arrest the offender.
It said any employee who refuses to enter smoking areas while smoking is going on shall not be victimised by the owner.
NEMA also said local governments must make laws to protect non-smokers and environmental inspectors must help to implement them.
Ends