Last updated: February 11, 2024
Smoke Free Status of Indoor Public Places, Workplaces, and Public Transport
All indoor workplaces
The law prohibits smoking in many enclosed public places including government departments and office premises, but permits the establishment of smoking areas or spaces in airports, hotels having 30 rooms or more, and restaurants having a seating capacity of a minimum of 30 persons.
To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should require all parts of all indoor workplaces to be 100% smoke free.
All indoor public places
The law prohibits smoking in many enclosed public places, but permits the establishment of smoking areas or spaces in airports, hotels having 30 rooms or more, and restaurants having a seating capacity of a minimum of 30 persons.
To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should require all parts of all indoor public places to be 100% smoke free.
All public transport
The law prohibits smoking in public conveyances. The term “public conveyances” is undefined, however, making it difficult to determine if the prohibition includes all public transport. “Public conveyances” is interpreted, however, to include all public means of transportation. Therefore, the regulatory status “100% Smoke Free” is given.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines with respect to public transport.
Government facilities
The law prohibits smoking in government departments, office premises, court houses, libraries, and educational institutions.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines as it relates to government facilities.
Private offices
The law prohibits smoking in office premises and places to which the public has access, whether as a right or otherwise. The law is interpreted as requiring private offices to be 100% smoke free.
Accordingly, the law aligns with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines.
Hospitals
The law prohibits smoking in hospitals.
Therefore, the law aligns with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines.
Residential healthcare facilities - public areas
The law prohibits smoking in hospitals, clinics, dispensaries and laboratories. Although the law does not specifically address the public areas of residential healthcare facilities, the law is interpreted as requiring them to be 100% smoke free.
Accordingly, the law aligns with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines.
Non-residential healthcare facilities
The law prohibits smoking in hospitals, clinics, dispensaries and laboratories. Although the law does not specifically address non-residential healthcare facilities, the law is interpreted as requiring these places to be 100% smoke free.
Accordingly, the law aligns with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines.
Childcare facilities/preschools
The law prohibits smoking in schools, universities or other educational institutions.
Because childcare facilities, as educational institutions, are 100% smoke free, the law aligns with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines.
Primary and secondary schools
The law prohibits smoking in many enclosed public places including schools, universities or other educational institutions.
As schools are 100% smoke free, the law aligns with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines.
Universities/vocational facilities
The law prohibits smoking in many enclosed public places including universities or other educational institutions.
As universities and vocational facilities are 100% smoke free, the law aligns with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines.
Shops
The law prohibits smoking in supermarkets and places to which the public has access. Although the law does not specifically address shops, the law is interpreted as requiring these places to be 100% smoke free.
Accordingly, the law aligns with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines.
Cultural facilities
The law prohibits smoking in libraries, museums, theatres and places to which the public has access. Although the law does not specifically address cultural facilities, the law is interpreted as requiring these places to be 100% smoke free.
Accordingly, the law aligns with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines.
Indoor stadium/arenas
The law prohibits smoking in sports complexes and places to which the public has access. Although the law does not specifically address indoor stadiums and arenas, the law is interpreted as requiring these places to be 100% smoke free.
Accordingly, the law aligns with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines.
Restaurants
The law prohibits smoking in certain restaurants, but provides that smoking areas or spaces may be located in restaurants having a seating capacity of a minimum of 30 persons.
To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should require all restaurants to be 100% smoke free.
Bars/pubs/nightclubs
The law prohibits smoking in including clubs with a seating capacity of less than 30 persons, but allows smoking in bars and pubs.
To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should require all parts of all enclosed bars and pubs to be 100% smoke free.
Casinos
The law does not prohibit or restrict smoking in casinos.
To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should require all parts of all enclosed casinos to be 100% smoke free.
Hotels/lodging - public areas
The law prohibits smoking in certain hotels, but provides that smoking areas or spaces may be located in hotels having 30 rooms or more.
To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should require all hotels to be 100% smoke free.
Hotels/lodgings - guest rooms
The law provides that smoking areas or spaces may be located in hotels having 30 rooms or more. The law does not differentiate between public spaces and guest rooms with regard to the location of smoking areas or spaces.
To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should require all hotel guest rooms to be 100% smoke free.
Prisons/detention facilities - public areas
The law prohibits smoking in many enclosed public places including government departments, public institutions and places to which the public has access. Although the law does not specifically address the public areas of prisons and detentions facilities, the law is interpreted as requiring these places to be 100% smoke free.
Accordingly, the law aligns with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines.
Trains, buses and other shared ground transportation other than taxis
The law prohibits smoking in public conveyances, but the term “public conveyances” is undefined. This term, however, is interpreted to include trains, buses, and other shared ground transportation.
As trains, buses, and other shared ground transportation are interpreted to be 100% smoke free, the law aligns with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines.
Taxis (for-hire vehicle)
The law prohibits smoking in public conveyances, but the term “public conveyances” is undefined. This term, however, is interpreted to include taxis.
As taxis are interpreted to be 100% smoke free, the law aligns with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines.
Commercial aircraft
The law prohibits smoking in public conveyances, but the term “public conveyances” is undefined. This term, however, is interpreted to include commercial aircraft.
As commercial aircraft are interpreted to be 100% smoke free, the law aligns with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines.
Commercial watercraft
The law prohibits smoking in public conveyances, but the term “public conveyances” is undefined. This term, however, is interpreted to include commercial watercraft.
As commercial watercraft are interpreted to be 100% smoke free, the law aligns with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines.
Public transport facilities (waiting areas for mass transit)
The law prohibits smoking in waiting rooms in railway stations and bus terminals, but permits the establishment of smoking areas or spaces in airports.
To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should require all public transport facilities to be 100% smoke free.