The local Health Bureau (SSM) continues to champion the establishment of ‘improved’ smoking lounges inside casinos as a “viable and feasible” solution, although it reiterates that no final decision on the matter has been made yet.
The announcement came at the end of last week, after the bureau held a press conference to present its recommendations for improving the standards of smoking lounges in casinos.
The document presented by the Health Bureau constitutes a response to the study commissioned by the six local casino operators presented on 13 February, which concluded that the majority of casino employees “support a solution for smoking lounges.”
The bureau claimed there was no final decision yet regarding the proposal introduced by the group of gaming operators, adding it is not giving in to pressure from the latter.
Yet, the announcement still pointed out that a number of lawmakers had already expressed their opposition to the implementation of a full smoking ban during discussions in 2015, which changed the previous bill (Law no.5/2011), and led to the creation of the “Regime on Tobacco-smoking Prevention and Control.”
The Second Permanent Commission of the Legislative Assembly had indeed supported the creation of smoking lounges by casting seven votes against two.
The Health Bureau also claims the smoking lounge solution seems to correspond with the “expectations of all parts,” without violating the World Health Organization principle for the “gradual” implementation of a full smoking ban.
The bureau expects to hear back from local gaming operators about the proposal it has submitted with measures and recommendations for smoking lounges, in order to present its opinion.
In case the new standards, and the amendment to the law, are implemented, they will be revised within three years.
S.Z.
