Enforcement of smoking ban inadequate - Mmegi Online
September 26, 2008
Almost a decade ago, non smokers in this country rejoiced when Botswana government finally came to its senses to ban smoking in public areas.
The smoking ban was expected to usher in a new era in which non-smokers would access public places like restaurants, buses, hotel lobbies, bars and offices without having to worry about finding such places enveloped by life threatening cigarette-induced clouds.
The reason behind this godly legislation was that smoking endangered lives of citizens, especially non-smokers and asthmatics, and it was therefore plausible to protect them by banning smoking in public areas.
What surprises me most, and other equally concerned citizens, is that nobody seems to care to enforce this piece of legislation, which has now become, despite its good intentions, one of the most neglected pieces of legislation in modern day Botswana.
Smoking still occurs in most public places, including offices in the private sector, where service providers have not shown any commitment to clearly demarcate smoking and non-smoking zones. Or if they did, they care less to put measures in place to block smoke from infiltrating non-smoking areas. Perhaps our service providers who want to allow smoking within their premises should emulate Oliver Tambo Airport, where there are designated smoking rooms for smokers to enjoy their thing without causing agony to other people.
I want to believe that our National Stadium, and other stadia around the country are public places, and therefore indiscriminate smoking is prohibited in these premises. But I have always wondered what gives supporters in the stands, especially the Notwane stand where I normally sit for soccer games, a right to smoke without being taken to task by police officers, who are now eager (thanks to the directive from above) to arrest individuals who bring in alcohol into the stadium. Why is the smoking ban not enforced in the same way as alcohol ban, and whose responsibility is it, stadium managers or police? I currently live in the United States, where police officers are not always visible to take care of rubble rousers at the national stadia, but also ensure that nobody in the stands can indulge in smoking.
As more stadia will be undergoing renovation and upgrading in Botswana in preparation for the World Cup in 2010, I hope it has also dawned on the minds of authorities to allocate smoking rooms/spaces where smokers can suck in their cigars and cigarettes far away from those who still cherish their lungs. Time is now for the Ian Khama led government to commit resources to address indiscriminate smoking in public areas lest thousands of citizens lose their precious lives. Smoking kills faster than alcohol.
Concerned Non-smoker
Jon Browne
Source: Mmegi Online
September 26, 2008
Almost a decade ago, non smokers in this country rejoiced when Botswana government finally came to its senses to ban smoking in public areas.
The smoking ban was expected to usher in a new era in which non-smokers would access public places like restaurants, buses, hotel lobbies, bars and offices without having to worry about finding such places enveloped by life threatening cigarette-induced clouds.
The reason behind this godly legislation was that smoking endangered lives of citizens, especially non-smokers and asthmatics, and it was therefore plausible to protect them by banning smoking in public areas.
What surprises me most, and other equally concerned citizens, is that nobody seems to care to enforce this piece of legislation, which has now become, despite its good intentions, one of the most neglected pieces of legislation in modern day Botswana.
Smoking still occurs in most public places, including offices in the private sector, where service providers have not shown any commitment to clearly demarcate smoking and non-smoking zones. Or if they did, they care less to put measures in place to block smoke from infiltrating non-smoking areas. Perhaps our service providers who want to allow smoking within their premises should emulate Oliver Tambo Airport, where there are designated smoking rooms for smokers to enjoy their thing without causing agony to other people.
I want to believe that our National Stadium, and other stadia around the country are public places, and therefore indiscriminate smoking is prohibited in these premises. But I have always wondered what gives supporters in the stands, especially the Notwane stand where I normally sit for soccer games, a right to smoke without being taken to task by police officers, who are now eager (thanks to the directive from above) to arrest individuals who bring in alcohol into the stadium. Why is the smoking ban not enforced in the same way as alcohol ban, and whose responsibility is it, stadium managers or police? I currently live in the United States, where police officers are not always visible to take care of rubble rousers at the national stadia, but also ensure that nobody in the stands can indulge in smoking.
As more stadia will be undergoing renovation and upgrading in Botswana in preparation for the World Cup in 2010, I hope it has also dawned on the minds of authorities to allocate smoking rooms/spaces where smokers can suck in their cigars and cigarettes far away from those who still cherish their lungs. Time is now for the Ian Khama led government to commit resources to address indiscriminate smoking in public areas lest thousands of citizens lose their precious lives. Smoking kills faster than alcohol.
Concerned Non-smoker
Jon Browne
Source: Mmegi Online
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