Bengaluru: After the issue of tobacco smoking at hotels and bars affecting non-smokers rocked the BBMP council on Tuesday, BBMP has issued a circular (dated August 28) ordering all hotels and bars in the city to completely ban smoking, even in the self designated 'smoking zones'.
Establishments such as pubs, hotels, bars and restaurants which have seating capacity of more than 30 and wish to create a designated smoking area as per law, with adequate number of exhaust fans should make sure the tobacco smoke does not enter any other room. They should get NOC from the BBMP Tobacco Control Cell.
In the circular it clearly mentioned that smoking should not be allowed in any area that serves food, alcohol or any other items.
Mayor Sampath Raj said, "Recent studies have shown that there is no safe-level of second-hand smoking. We are concerned about the health of the staff working in hotels and bars and customers, especially women and children in light of these scientific evidences.” We are confident that hotels and bars associations in city will welcome and support this initiative, he added.
BBMP ruling party leader Shiva Raj said, "It is necessary that Designated Smoking Areas must be removed as most of the facilities providing this do not follow the norms as specified by the law and put non-smokers at risk."
