Enforcement of law on tobacco 'flawed'

"Despite the ban, some convenience stores display ciga¬rette packets," WHO official Dr Armando Peruga said yes¬terday.

The WHO conducted a tobaccocontrol survey in Thailand from November 2 to November 13. The findings will be used to develop a better tobaccocontrol plan.

According to the Public Health Ministry, the WHO decid¬ed to survey tobacco control here because the country has an outstanding record in honouring the Framework Convention.

Peruga said Thailand should henceforth proactively enforce the relevant laws.

"We've found many smokers puffing cigarettes in areas declared as smokingfree," he said.

Current laws require that many types of public places become smokingfree zones, including airconditioned restaurants and public parks.

Cigarette advertising in mainstream Thai media such as television is banned. Peruga encouraged Thailand to ban such advertising on the Internet, too.

Disease Control Department directorgeneral ML Somchai Chakrabhand said he would present the WHO findings to the national tobaccocontrol board in January.

"We will improve tobacco control in the country," he said.

Thailand Action on Smoking and Health Foundation secretarygeneral Prakit Vathesatogkit said budgetary constraint was one key reason.

 the legal enforcement of tobacco controls was still a problem area.

"In some places, we don't have 'nosmoking' signs simply because we don't have enough budget," he said.

He added that the police, who are responsible for enforcing tobaccocontrol laws, had their hands full with other duties such as crime suppression.