Smoking in public places is unlawful, says city official

By EREBIRI ZURENUOC
SMOKING in public places, especially retail shops and food bars, is against the law and should not be allowed, a city council health official says.
Lae City Council director for health and community services Jonathan Ipang told The National yesterday that the public needed to be aware that employers or employees had no right to smoke inside the shop.
“We have laws specifically for bakeries and food bars where customers or even employees must not smoke,” Ipang said.
He was notified yesterday of an incident on Christmas Eve when a media personnel in Lae was punched twice in the face by a Chinese shop owner after telling his Chinese employees to extinguish their cigarettes.
“Employees are not allowed to smoke inside shopping area or the building. And that’s a law,” Ipang said.
“If they want to smoke, they can go and smoke in their homes and go back into the shop. The spot fine for smoking inside shops is K500.
“The public must work with law enforcers to enforce this law. If they see any foreigner or national smoking in their shops, report it to us.”
Provincial programme adviser for health Micah Yawing said smoking was a public health hazard and must not be entertained, especially in enclosed areas such as kai bars and restaurants.
He said the main drawback was that the law was not being enforced in the country.
People were unaware that such laws existed.