BAN ON SMOKING AND VAPING
KUCHING: Smoking and vaping are banned in all eateries nationwide beginning Jan 1 next year.
Owner of Juat Siang Cafe, a fourth-generation family run coffeeshop in Carpenter Street, Kapitan Lim Chuan Chan said he had no problem with the implementation of the ban which is enforced by the Health Ministry.
“It is a good idea actually because it is unhygienic to smoke in cafes or coffeeshops.
“Not only is the smoke smelly, it also makes non-smokers very uncomfortable. The second-hand smoke from cigarettes is bad for their health,” he said.
Lim added the smoking ban in the food premises would help keep the coffeeshops clean. There would not be any smell from cigarette smoke and smokers would not simply throw cigarette buds on the floor.
“Since the start of the education period for the smoking ban in the state in March this year, I have advised and reminded my customers nicely not to smoke inside the coffeeshop.
“So far, all of them listened and would smoke somewhere not far from the coffeeshop,” he said, adding that he had also put up the ‘No Smoking’ signs.
Lim said he was worried about secondary school students who smoked when patronising his coffeeshop.
“These kids are still young and they just want to show off they smoke. It bothers me all the time and I always tell them to stop smoking,” he said.
Meanwhile, a former coffeeshop worker, Liana Batin, 23, from Lundu, said one of the challenges coffeeshop staff had to face was the second-hand smoke during working hours and sweeping or picking up cigarette buds before closing time.
“Last time, even before the ban, some coffeeshops or cafes had put up the ‘No Smoking’ signs but they were just like pieces of decoration because no one cared.
“But with the smoking ban now, if smokers don’t obey the law, they would be fined. I think smokers would not want to smoke inside the eateries anymore,” she said.
Liana added the smoking ban at eateries was a good move to create smoking-free areas besides preventing non-smokers from getting sick.
