(3/7/2011)
Bali plans to soon make smoking in most public places on the island illegal. When the new regulation is formally announced and in place, those caught lighting up in a smoke-free area may be subjected to up to 6 months in prison and a fine of up to Rp. 50 million (US$5,500).
The head of Bali Health Service, Dr. Nyoman Sutedja, told BeritaBali.com on February 28, 2011, that the new ruling will affect tourism areas and hotels in Bali. Said Sutedja: "Our desire is that the tourism community will support us; we want to duplicate what was done in Thailand. Thailand gave rankings to various hotels, If a hotel was reviewed and many people were smoking it got a red ranking, those with less were ranked yellow and those who were genuinely free of smoke were rated blue."
Sutedja said that the policy of establishing "smoke-free zones" is in keeping with legislation being drafted on a provincial level to outlaw smoking in public places.
The new anti-smoking regulations being prepared for Bali covers 8 chapters and 22 clauses of legislation stipulating which areas are to be legislated as "smoke free" - including places of education, places providing health services, places in which children play, places of worship, travel terminals and airports.
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