Smokers to cough up

You can expect to be fined R500 if found smoking a tobacco product in a public place, and a business owner can be fined up to R50 000 if they fail to display signs informing patrons or staff of non-smoking areas.
The days of lighting up a puff as and when you please are coming to the end.
New legislation, implemented earlier this year, makes it almost impossible for you to smoke legally in a public place.
South Africa was one of the first countries in the world to ban smoking in public places in 2000 when it introduced its Tobacco Products Control Amendment Act.
This act prohibited smoking in restaurants, offices and other places where there was no separate, enclosed smoking room.
Smokers and business owners were in for an even greater shock earlier this year when the act was amended to extend the ban to partially enclosed public places such as covered patios, verandas, balconies, walkways and parking areas. It also bans smoking in cars where children under the age of 12 are present. Children under the age of 18 are banned from designated smoking areas and from buying cigarettes.
According to section three of the bill, the owner of, or person in charge of, a public place must ensure that no person smokes in violation of the provisions of these regulations. They also have the responsibly of making sure that no ashtrays are placed in the areas where smoking is not allowed and display ‘No Smoking’ signs at appropriate locations and in sufficient numbers.
Basically the responsibility of making sure people do not smoke in prohibited areas lies on the shoulders of the business owner.
Local shopping centres and businesses have been working with the Ilembe district municipality’s environmental health department to ensure they are not caught breaking the law.
Recently the Ballito Lifestyle Centre management wrote to their tenants informing them that they are taking this law seriously.
“There will be spot checks carried out during December and this will see any transgressors being fined,” said Lifestyle Centre manager Mark Pearse.
The Ballito Junction centre manager Theresa Mariayia said their mall was a non-smoking zone. She said their biggest challenge was that “some customers refuse to refrain, making the situation very uncomfortable, but we do explain to them that if caught smoking in the centre they will be fined.”
Most readers commenting on the Courier Facebook page felt the ban was a step in the right direction.
“I am a smoker, but walking through Lifestyle Centre (between Mica and Mr Price Home) you should see how many inconsiderate smokers there are, throwing the cigarette butts everywhere while there is a dustbin one metre away. I can understand why smoking will be banned in most public areas,” wrote Mandie Nel.
Thokozani Potelwas said non smokers were suffering and it was high time the government built smoking salons for smokers so that they may not infringe on others’ rights.
“I am against murder in every way, including breathing in second hand smoke, yuck,” wrote Paula de Beer.