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Smoking is soon to be banned in all stores

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From this year, smoking — including electronic cigarettes — is prohibited in all restaurants and coffee shops in Busan.

 

If the rule is breached, then a fine of 100,000 won ($90) is levied on the smoker.

 

Busan City is cracking down on smoking from Jan. 1.

 

Even restaurants smaller than 100 square meters (1076.4 square feet) are off limits, so any establishment that serves food, such as pubs and coffee shops, is a no-smoking zone. If the law is broken, the offender should pay for the consequences.

 

In 2011, the law for the promotion of the nation’s health was amended and therefore the no-smoking law has been applied to larger restaurants only, in a bid to minimize the sales loss of smaller restaurants. The probation period has expired, so the law will be applied to all restaurants from this year.

 

If a customer is caught smoking, he or she should pay a 100,000 won fine whereas the establishment or the manager who did not actively stop the person or provide a paper cup as an ashtray will be fined 1.7 million won.

 

Moreover, the “smoking seats” currently available in coffee shops will also be banned.

 

Instead, a separate space can be set aside and operated as a “smoking room.” But only ashtrays are allowed in the smoking room while no chairs or tables can be set up.

 

Before a full-on implementation of the law, the City and the Ministry of Health and Welfare will engage in activities to guide restaurant associates and restaurateurs until March.

 

The source of news: Dynamic Busan