BENGALURU: Anti Corruption TV India telecasted Illegal smoking zone in Bengaluru City
Under a special campaign launched in December 2022, the BBMP has fined 392 restaurants, hotels and pubs for violating the code of conduct and not having designated smoking areas (DSAs) on their premises.
The BBMP has mandated designated smoking areas for all restaurants, bars or pubs with a seating capacity of more than 30. To prevent smoking in public places, especially in hotels, pubs and restaurants, BBMP implemented smoking zone rule.
Designated smoking area should have automatic doors, exhaust fans for ventilation to prevent it from spilling over into non-smoking area. It should be surrounded by walls on all four sides. This area should not be near entry and exit doors and should be clearly marked as ‘Smoking Area’.
The BBMP said there are 2,385 restaurants in the city that have a separate smoking area if they have a seating capacity of more than 30. 392 Restaurants, pubs, hotels or shops selling food do not have a separate smoking area. Officials said that they have been fined
A total fine of Rs 1,10,500 has been imposed on all food shops. Of the total number of hotels, restaurants and pubs in the city, only 58 had smoking areas, said BBMP Special Commissioner (Health) Dr. K.V. Trilok Chandra said.
Bruhat Bangalore Hotel Association (BBHA) president PC Rao said that it is not appropriate to have a mandatory smoking area in non-smoking food places. This is the main reason why many food places have switched to smoke-free areas. BBHA supports the initiative of no-smoking zones in restaurants and food outlets as we do not want to promote smoking, he said.
I have also requested BBMP not to make smoking zones mandatory in places where smoking is not allowed. Rao said that since people drink in pubs and bars, those places should be under the radar and not regular snack bars.
