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The ruling CPP and opposition CNRP made a rare show of fraternity Wednesday morning in unanimously passing the country’s first tobacco control law—which bans sales to minors, smoking in public and most advertising—in a bid to combat related illnesses.

https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/part ... law-81703/

As a smoker, I'm quite ok with banning sales to minors, advertising etc - but "smoking in public"? Hmmm.

And this is also questionable IMO:

The law states: “Any act of selling or distributing all types of tobacco products to persons aged under 18 years or to pregnant women whose pregnancy is obvious or is realized must be punished with six days to one month in prison and a fine of 100,000 riel [about $25] to 1 million riel [about $250].”

I haven't heard of it being illegal to sell cigarettes to pregnant women before? Undoubtedly, it is not good for pregnant women to smoke, but this law will give them the legal status of a minor. (!!)

From my experience, it's the older generation who smoke in Cambodia anyway. Don't think I know any Cambodians under 40 that smoke.
Anyway, will see what happens - so easy just to make more laws...

I usually send my kids to the shop to buy my cigarettes.

Wonder how long it will take before they are told they can't buy them anymore.

Username Taken wrote:I usually send my kids to the shop to buy my cigarettes.

Wonder how long it will take before they are told they can't buy them anymore.

Something tells me this law won't take that away from you in practice.

Wonder what lobby organization ordered this. Recently they were prepping gross imagery, now they're banning public smoking. That was a quick turn.

Wow, restricting the "sale" to pregnant women is hardcore.

I have a feeling the first pregnant woman to spend 6+ days in jail for this law will just happen to be a member of the opposition party.

General Mackevili wrote:Wow, restricting the "sale" to pregnant women is hardcore.

I have a feeling the first pregnant woman to spend 6+ days in jail for this law will just happen to be a member of the opposition party.

You misunderstand, read it again:

Any act of selling or distributing all types of tobacco products to persons aged under 18 years or to pregnant women whose pregnancy is obvious or is realized

Pregnant women don't go to jail. People who sell to them do.

Wonder if they will consider second hand smoke near pregnant women distribution of tobacco products to pregnant women. I.e. going to jail for smoking next to a minor.

There is no way these laws will be strictly enforced...it's not even worthy of discussion. No smoking in public, yea right!

Speaking of laws that will never be enforced...

What's the deal with shisha/hookah lounges these days?

^ I did see people smoking shisha at a bar on 172 about 5-6 weeks ago, but I noticed its definitely not out in the open like it used to be. Was never really that popular in PP like it is in Thailand, more of just a fad amongst the Khmer youth (which was the main cause of the ban), apart from the few expats and tourists that indulged.

I've got a couple of hookahs (not to be confused with hookers) at home which normally only come out when I have friends over for drinks, haven't been able to find anywhere to buy the shisha in town since the ban so I normally have to buy it from the ME airports I regularly transit through on my home from work.

Username Taken wrote:I usually send my kids to the shop to buy my cigarettes.

Wonder how long it will take before they are told they can't buy them anymore.

Probably about the same time the two-adults-to-a-moto rule starts being applied.

Maybe HE has stopped smoking ?
Hence the no smoking in public (so he doesn't feel tempted.)