6 months not enough to educate people on smoking ban, says association

The ban on smoking will take effect in January. (FIle pic)

PETALING JAYA: An association representing coffee shop owners across the country has called for a longer “cooling off” period for the public to be educated on the ban on smoking at eateries which comes into effect next month.

Malaysia-Singapore Coffee Shop Proprietors’ General Association chairman Ho Su Mong said it would take more than six months to get smokers to change their habits.

“The time given is too limited,” he said, referring to the health ministry’s announcement yesterday that the first six months after the ban is implemented would be used to educate people on the new law.

“If the ministry is really serious about reducing the number of smokers, it should provide a longer time.

“Make it a year. Educating these people will not be easy as they are used to this culture which has been around for 20 to 30 years,” he told FMT.

Reiterating that six months was not enough, he said many people would be fined or summoned during this time.

He also urged the ministry to conduct further research on the matter, questioning the effectiveness of the six-month grace period.

“Some smokers are the stubborn type,” he added.

Ho said most of the coffee shops under the association were prepared to put up signs informing customers of the ban, adding however that it was up to the smokers to obey the rules.

He also suggested that the ministry provide these signs, saying it was not fair to expect the shopkeepers to buy them themselves.

Likewise, he called on the government to play its part in promoting the ban, such as by putting up posters to inform smokers of the new rule.

“The government must play its part and not push everything to the shopkeepers. If you want to educate the people, it must be done properly.”

Indian Muslim Restaurant Operators Association president Ayub Khan however told FMT that six months should be enough to educate the people on the ban.

Voicing support for the ministry’s announcement, he said people should be educated first, with action taken only if they fail to obey the rules after that. - FMT