No need for special smoking rooms

FOLLOWING my letter, “In pursuit of no-smoking policy” (Views, The Star, Sept 21; online at tinyurl.com/ star-no-smoke), I congratulate the Health Ministry and restaurant operators in finally enforcing the no-smoking policy in all eateries.

However, referring to the letter, “Looking for fair deal as ban on smoking bites” (Views, The Star, Jan 14; online at tinyurl.com/starsmoke), I disagree with the author’s suggestion that the Health Ministry should consider allowing owners of eateries to provide customers who smoke with special rooms with good air ventilation that will ensure cigarette smoke won’t disturb non-smoking customers.

I feel this “fair deal” favours the smokers and not at all the nonsmokers. Will the customers, both smokers and non-smokers, be paying more for their food because of the costs of building and maintaining these special rooms? Or will only the smoking customers be charged more for their food for using the special rooms? After all, it wouldn’t be fair for the costs to be borne by non-smoking customers too.

Moreover, how would restaurant operators ensure that cigarette smoke does not leak into the nonsmoking section? I am sure doors leading into and out of the smoking area cannot prevent smoke from entering the non-smoking area when they are opened. In short, smoke knows no boundaries.

So there is no simple and straightforward solution that offers a “fair deal”. The no-smoking policy should not be compromised and must be strictly enforced by the authorities – or it should not be implemented at all.

I ask the Health Ministry not to favour smokers at the expense of nonsmokers and compromise the no-smoking policy by allowing such rooms to be built in eateries. As the saying goes, “If you give the devil an inch, he becomes a ruler”. Smokers will one day ignore the no-smoking policy once the Health Ministry starts to give in to their requests.

I hope for the sake of the nation’s health and wellbeing, the Health Ministry and its officers will continue to stand firm on the implementation of the no-smoking policy and consistently enforce the policy without fear or favour. Please do not give up, and keep up your good work.

To smokers who do not light up in eateries, thank you, because you have let us all enjoy a healthier and happier new year.

The no-smoking policy should not be compromised and must be strictly enforced .