With the new Tobacco Hazard Prevention and Control Act (菸害防制法) to take effect today, Department of Health Minister Yeh Ching-chuan (葉金川) yesterday joined several other health officials and members of anti-smoking group the John Tung Foundation to mark the introduction of smoke-free public environments.
The new act bans smoking at indoor facilities designed for more than three people, such as government offices, hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, Internet cafes and karaoke bars. There are only a few exceptions to the rule — locations equipped with indoor smoking rooms that have independent air conditioning and bars that open after 9pm and forbid the entry of people under the age of 18.
It also stipulates that owners of establishments that sell cigarettes, including convenience stores, supermarkets, restaurants and betel nut stands, may not actively market or display tobacco-related ads.
It will also be illegal to smoke at bus stops, on train station platforms or at any other waiting areas. Business owners must display no-smoking signs and are not allowed to provide customers with cigarettes or any smoking-related items. Infractions will result in fines of between NT$10,000 and NT$50,000. Individuals found smoking in smoke-free facilities will be fined between NT$2,000 and NT$10,000.
Some outdoor areas, such as children’s playgrounds, amusement parks and zoos will also prohibit smoking, Yeh said.
“So when people go see the pandas [at Taipei City Zoo], remember, no smoking,” he said.
The minister and the John Tung Foundation celebrated the start of “Smoke-free Taiwan” with Spring Festival couplets (春聯) in front of a department store in Taipei yesterday.
Yeh, citing a survey conducted by his department, said that as of yesterday, about 90 percent of the public was aware of the new regulations.
When asked about how the department plans to deal with violators, especially in places such as karaoke bars where people may illegally smoke behind closed doors, Yeh said the department would rely on business owners’ cooperation, such as having waiters tell smokers to put out their cigarettes.
“Sixteen other countries have established smoke-free environments already,” Yeh said. “Although we are a bit behind, we are now catching up with the rest of the world.”
It may take a while for the public to get used to the new regulations, John Tung Foundation president Yau Sea-wain (姚思遠) said.
“Hong Kong and Singapore, to name two places, had to go through this phase of adjustment. We are confident Taiwan can do it, too,” Yau said.
For more information on the new tobacco regulations, visit http://health99.doh.gov.tw.
Tobacco Hazard Prevention Act
The new Tobacco Hazard Prevention Act (菸害防制法) takes effect today. The act bans smoking at indoor facilities designed for more than three people, such as government organizations, hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, Internet cafes or karaoke bars. Locations equipped with indoor smoking rooms that have independent air conditioning and bars that open after 9pm and forbid the entry of people under the age of 18 will be exempt.
School campuses, stadiums, or any public outdoor venue frequently visited by children and teenagers will have to abide by the policy.
It will also be illegal to smoke at bus stops, on platforms or at any other waiting areas. Business owners must display no-smoking signs and are not allowed to provide customers with cigarettes or any smoking-related items. Infractions will result in fines of between NT$10,000 and NT$50,000. Individuals found smoking in smoke-free facilities will be fined between NT$2,000 and NT$10,000.
Convenience stores must not encourage the purchase of cigarettes in any way, including using advertisement posters, electronic panels, animation, bonus points or any discount program, placing more than one box of cigarettes on the counter, selling candies, snacks, or toys in the form of cigarettes.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday said it is closely monitoring developments in Venezuela, and would continue to cooperate with democratic allies and work together for regional and global security, stability, and prosperity. The remarks came after the US on Saturday launched a series of airstrikes in Venezuela and kidnapped Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who was later flown to New York along with his wife. The pair face US charges related to drug trafficking and alleged cooperation with gangs designated as terrorist organizations. Maduro has denied the allegations. The ministry said that it is closely monitoring the political and economic situation
Conflict with Taiwan could leave China with “massive economic disruption, catastrophic military losses, significant social unrest, and devastating sanctions,” a US think tank said in a report released on Monday. The German Marshall Fund released a report titled If China Attacks Taiwan: The Consequences for China of “Minor Conflict” and “Major War” Scenarios. The report details the “massive” economic, military, social and international costs to China in the event of a minor conflict or major war with Taiwan, estimating that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) could sustain losses of more than half of its active-duty ground forces, including 100,000 troops. Understanding Chinese
UNRELENTING: China attempted cyberattacks on Taiwan’s critical infrastructure 2.63 million times per day last year, up from 1.23 million in 2023, the NSB said China’s cyberarmy has long engaged in cyberattacks against Taiwan’s critical infrastructure, employing diverse and evolving tactics, the National Security Bureau (NSB) said yesterday, adding that cyberattacks on critical energy infrastructure last year increased 10-fold compared with the previous year. The NSB yesterday released a report titled Analysis on China’s Cyber Threats to Taiwan’s Critical Infrastructure in 2025, outlining the number of cyberattacks, major tactics and hacker groups. Taiwan’s national intelligence community identified a large number of cybersecurity incidents last year, the bureau said in a statement. China’s cyberarmy last year launched an average of 2.63 million intrusion attempts per day targeting Taiwan’s critical
‘SLICING METHOD’: In the event of a blockade, the China Coast Guard would intercept Taiwanese ships while its navy would seek to deter foreign intervention China’s military drills around Taiwan this week signaled potential strategies to cut the nation off from energy supplies and foreign military assistance, a US think tank report said. The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) conducted what it called “Justice Mission 2025” exercises from Monday to Tuesday in five maritime zones and airspace around Taiwan, calling them a warning to “Taiwanese independence” forces. In a report released on Wednesday, the Institute for the Study of War said the exercises effectively simulated blocking shipping routes to major port cities, including Kaohsiung, Keelung and Hualien. Taiwan would be highly vulnerable under such a blockade, because it
RSS