City's nightclubs first hit by anti - smoking regulations

By Chanel September
16 September 2006

Nightclubs in and around the City of Cape Town could be the first hit with the new anti-smoking regulations.

This after parliament discussed amendment to the Tobacco Control Bill by the Health Department this week.

One of the new penalties increases a hundredfold - from R200 to R20 000 - the fine for the owner of a public place or for the employer who fails to ensure there is no smoking in a smoke-free area.

Executive Director for health in the City of Cape Town Dr Ivan Toms told the Cape Times that the laws have been ineffective because fines have been too small and that the whole point is protecting people from passive smoking.

He believed the swingeing new fines would serve as a strong incentive to obey the law and confirmed that there would be a greater focus on policing nightclubs.