60% of bars in city flout smoking ban

According to the findings from a recent ‘Air Quality Monitoring (AQM) analysis, over 60 per cent of bars-cum-restaurants in India are flouting smoke-free rules even one year after the implementation of the ban on smoking in public places. The study added that the fine particle air pollution in India is 32 times higher than the WHO recommended guidelines for air quality in non-compliant bars-cum-restaurants as well. Chennai is equally at risk when it comes to such health hazards as green activists in the city say that air pollution owing to smoking is rampant across various parts of Chennai.
Speaking about the contamination levels in the city, Arul, a co-ordinator with SmokeFree Chennai, an NGO, which is aimed at spreading awareness on environmental concerns stemming from air pollution, says, “We had recently conducted a survey by measuring particulate air pollution from second hand smoke in Chennai. We scanned almost 30 indoor hospitality units comprising bars, cafes and cinema halls during their peak hour operations. And we found that there was 10 times more air pollution in a smoky bar or theatre during the intermission when compared to the Kodungaiyur dump yard and the Manali Industrial area.”
He adds, “The main concern here is that compliance with the non-smoking rules is not being followed in more than half the hotels and restaurants in the city. One in every two public places has a ‘no-smoking’ board whose dimensions are lesser than that specified as the legal size. Apart from this, the provision or sale of cigarettes is also continuing unabated across the city. This should be altogether curbed in a public places such as theatres, cafes, beaches etc.”
Health care professionals have also expressed their worries over the increasing levels of patients walking in these days with dust and smoking related health disorders. Dr Prasanna Kumar Thomas, a respiratory physician with Apollo Hospitals says, “Compared to the last 10 years, the number of people suffering from respiratory illnesses in Chennai has jumped to almost three or four times. Side stream or second hand smoking is also known to be a major contributor to asthma in younger children, an illness which they contract due to the smoking habit of their parents.”
However, when contacted, members of the hospitality industry in the city opined that a majority of them were in compliance with the government rule and were taking additional measures to ensure that the premises remain as smoke free as possible. Ricardo DL, a restaurant and bar manager with a major hotel group says, “We have taken the no-smoking ban very seriously and we do not permit smoking in the restaurants or pubs within the hotel premises. There is a designated smoking zone near our parking lot, which is equipped with an A/C, exhaust and ioniser, which removes all the smoke without letting it clog the room.”

City’s stand

* In places with smoking, the highest average particle pollution levels were found in bars (700 per cent higher than smoke-free places), cafes ( 550 per cent) and theatres (55 per cent)

* Places where smoking was observed has pollution levels that were three times greater than Kodungaiyur dumpyard and the Manali Industrial area

‘Smoke’ matters

The government has been very strict in enforcing the ban on smoking in public places. The problem with clubs and bars is that many of them happen to be owned privately and it’s not feasible for the officials to constantly patrol each and every indoor area. However, we are cracking down on defaulters in public utilities like buses, trains, etc.

Rajesh Lakhoni, Corporation Commissioner

I feel that the smoking ban has been enforced, but only with a moderate level of success. People still smoke near bus stops, tea shops and outside restaurants. The only reason why one wouldn’t want to object to the same is to avoid getting into an argument. As far as working professionals are concerned, corporates should make it a policy that no employee smokes in the office premises.

Suhas PK, Finance professional