Smoking zones at restaurants pose health hazards for children

 
Designated smoking zones at restaurants throughout Bangladesh pose serious health hazards for customers especially the children as they become the victim of passive smoking.

A study has revealed that some 3.84 crore people in Bangladesh are exposed to secondhand smoke, with nearly 50% of them affected in restaurants. According to the Smoking and Use of the Tobacco (Control) (Amendment) Act 2013, smoking in public places, including restaurants that is surrounded by four walls are prohibited and a punishable offence.

Clause 4 (2) of the law stipulates that smokers in public places, including restaurants surrounded by four walls shall be fined maximum Tk 300. And in case of repeated violation, the fine will double for each repetition.

During a recent visit at a Chinese restaurant in capital's Farmgate area, it was seen that members of a family including kids were dining and two men came out from restaurant's smoking zone resulting in the spreading of cigarette smoke around the eating area. Though the affected customers got irritated, they didn't utter a single word protesting this illegal act. Dr M Mamun, a physician at Dhaka Shishu Hospital, said, "Secondhand smoking is a serious health concern for children as cigarette smoke can easily enter children's lungs. It causes diseases such as pneumonia, bronchitis, asthma for children."

Serious health issues such as miscarriages, premature births, low birth weight, and stillbirths are also the result of passive smoking, he added.
ABM Zubair, executive director of research and advocacy organisation PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress), said, "With a view to protecting children from the danger of secondhand smoking, designated smoking zones in public places must be prohibited and the draft of anti-tobacco act be passed in a shortest possible time."

Public places are defined as educational institutions, government offices, semi-government offices, autonomous office and private offices, libraries, lifts, indoor workplaces, hospital and clinic buildings, court buildings, airport buildings, seaport buildings, river port buildings, railway station buildings, bus terminal buildings, movie houses, exhibition centres, theatre halls, shopping malls, restaurants surrounded by four walls, public toilets, children parks, fairs and queue of passengers of public transport.

Public health experts suggest strict actions against the restaurants which indirectly promote smoking by setting up designated smoke zones. They emphasize raising awareness about laws concerned among restaurant owners and people from all strata.