Lighting up a cigarette will become a legal offence in all air-conditioned zones at pubs, restaurants, discotheques and entertainment venues from February 17 onward. Smoking will also be banned from most parts of food parks and markets including the Chatuchak Weekend Market.

"For the open-air food parks or markets, smoking will be only allowed at smoking corners," Thailand Health Promotion Institute chairman Dr Hatai Chitanondh said Friday. Smokers flouting the ban will be liable to Bt2,000 fine, while landlords allowing such smoking will be fined Bt20,000.

According to Hatai, the stricter smoking ban will take effect on February 17 - 45 days after the Public Health Ministry's regulation to enforce the ban was already promulgated in the Royal Gazette.

Currently, pubs, discotheques and entertainment venues allow smoking. Hatai expected some protest from owners of pubs and night-time entertainment venues because they tended to believe that the smoking ban would hurt their businesses. "But our research has found that the businesses might suffer some impacts only in the beginning. After some time, the pubs and entertainment venues will not only get back their old customers but will also attract new non-smoking patrons," he explained. He also pointed out that the no-smoking rule would be good to the health of both customers and staff.

"Music performances will be better because musical instruments won't be exposed to the smoke," Hatai added.