New smoking at home law: “It’s not a ban we are protecting the kids”, top official

A leading Thai official has hit back at claims on social media that a new law is designed to stop people smoking in their own homes.  

There was a massive backlash from both smokers and non-smokers alike after the law was announced.

Lertpanya Buranabanthit – the leader of the Department of Women’s Affairs and Family Development – said the law does not seek to ban smoking at home. It has been brought in to protect children and other vulnerable people from the negative health effects of second hand smoke. The law is set to be enforced in Thailand from August 20th this year. Thaivisa notes that posters all over Thai and English language social media slammed the new law as an attack on civil liberties. Only a small proportion of people online recognized that its aim was to protect the vulnerable – especially children. 

Sanook

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