Mumbai Hotels gives a “Thumbs Up” to Smoke Free Law!

The Association of Hotels and Restaurants in Mumbai (AHAR), which has membership exceeding 6500 eating establishments including hotels, restaurants, bars, etc. is a partner to the active implementation of the Smoke-Free Mumbai Campaign (SFM) that aims at ensuring a 100% compliance with the national smoke-free public places legislation notified last year. The Smokefree Mumbai Campaign in collaboration with the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai has already distributed over 5000 smoke-free signage to AHAR members. The campaign plans to cover all 6500 AHAR members and also other restaurants in the city by the year end. The campaign will also provide the signage in Marathi soon after.

According to Mr. Alva, President of AHAR, at a Press Conference, The implementation of the law of Smoke free public places has received thumbs up from customers across segments. In fact, in the past few months there has been around 50% to 60% rise in the awareness among the customers about the harmful effects of smoking and passive smoking which has led to a positive change in customer response towards the ban.

Research has also shown that improved air quality translates to decreased toxin exposure among employees. For example, among employees of the Norwegian establishments that enacted smoking bans, tests showed improved (decreased) levels of nicotine in the urine of both smoking and non-smoking workers (as compared with measurements prior to the ban). A recent study showed New Jersey bars and restaurants had more than nine times the levels of indoor air pollution compared to New York City, which had enacted the ban.

It is conclusive that the implementation of a smoke-free environment is the primary and most effective way to ensure that a non-smoker’s right to good health and right to breathe air devoid of smoke is given preference over a smoker’s right to smoke and cause harm to those around him/her. The government should effectively implement smoke-free laws and increase compliance through proper enforcement mechanism. Without enforcement, laws are of no use.