Smoking Ban Effective July 15th...

[Bnewb]

The debate I believe, mostly comes from people who think Jamaica is one big beach offering open air restaurants....this is all lovely & fine, for the major tourist areas but much of the population of the rest of Jamaica lives with buildings designed as government offices, hospitals, enclosed restaurants & bars, air conditioned stores, etc....with over a third of the population living in Kingston alone, this is a greater concern in Kingston & more in the city centres around Jamaica. The law does need to be defined more for tourist areas, patio areas etc...but it was designed with the most effected areas of the island in mind.

[Long Bay Randy]

Bnewb, when reading the Gleaner online i have seen several requests for the government to define the conditions of this change. Seeing nothing come forth. Couples adopted their version of the new law. It is what it is. Folks will make their decisions on travel from what is known.

Enclosed public spaces is such a vague term some guidance should have been specified. I guess it is if it has a roof you can't smoke.

For smokers it would seem to now be Jamaica...some problem mon.

[Bnewb]

LBR...that's why I said the law needs to be defined more for tourist areas, patio areas etc.
As happened with my old hometown....the government has chosen to give warnings out until everyone gets a handle on this new law and also I'm sure to become more definitive in their interpretation of the law.

[Long Bay Randy]

Lisa, after posting I went to the Couples message board for their latest take on the subject and they have backed off the no smoking on the room patio or balcony.

I couldn't agree with you more with the Government needing to define the law further.

[Bnewb]

Interesting...thanks for the info LBR!

[goldilocks]

This law is for revenue generation. Come on, with all the issues in Jamaica this should be way down the list of priorities!

[Rob]

This law is for revenue generation. Come on, with all the issues in Jamaica this should be way down the list of priorities!

Goldilocks,

While this may be your opinion, the Jamaican Health Minister Dr. Ferguson has a different take on it, including counseling:

" Ferguson urges smokers to respect rights of others

Health Minister Dr Fenton Ferguson has said he is willing to look at the possibility of allowing businesses, especially in the tourist industry, to have a special area outdoors to facilitate smokers.


Speaking on the Jamaica Information Service programme 'Issues and Answers' on Thursday, he was clear about not allowing smoking rooms.


"The evidence is clear that smoking kills. The evidence is clear that passive smoking kills. So, to put 10 to 15 persons in this room, what you are essentially setting up is a death chamber, because you now have concentration of smoking," he said.


NOT A WHOLESALE BAN


He pointed out that the new anti-smoking regulations are not a wholesale ban on smoking. "What we want to define is that once it (smoking) is going to impinge on someone else's right, then the ban chips in. So, in essence, if you want the right to smoke, do it where you do not affect the public in general," he said.


Ferguson said he was not averse to having a second look at the penalties for breaking the ban, to include mandatory counselling for offenders.


"I know some persons are a little worried about the fines, and even conviction. My thing is not about sending anyone to prison. So, probably we might need to look, in revisiting, at some kind of mandatory counselling sessions, because cigarette smoking is an addiction, and to that extent, it oftentimes require professional help," he said."


http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/2...ead/lead5.html

All of this seems like a rather common sense approach to a well known health hazard...

[goldilocks]

Goldilocks,

While this may be your opinion, ..

LOL, it is absolutely my opinion. My opinion is that the ban is for revenue generation (e.g. arrests at Sumfest - outside venue). if gov was so concerned about public health they would better look into road safety or efficient investigation of murders - things like that. I'm all about not offending others, don't smoke tobacco and am disciplined enough to police my own actions and be considerate of others. "Love is the only law to obey" is my general practice.

[Bnewb]

if gov was so concerned about public health they would better look into road safety or efficient investigation of murders - things like that.

The government has been...
ie. traffic lights, medians & sidewalks being placed on Norman Manley Blvd...road repairs are more frequent around the island...South Coast road construction...and a cell phone ban while driving should be introduced very shortly.

And, just a thought regarding the smoking charges at Sumfest...but if it was just a money grab...why were the people at Sumfest given several warnings, which they chose to ignore, before they were finally charged?

[kmon]

I appreciate the no-smoking bans. Because of an auto-immune disease, I have to use supplemental oxygen to breathe. Second hand smoke, whether on a beach, an open air restaurant, anywhere, makes me have to make a quick "exit". It ruins my experience, and endangers my health. I would like to continue to breathe, and be able to visit Negril, until I'm below ground, but I don't want it hastened by second hand smoke.