Kerala’s hospitality sector to phase in tobacco smoking prohibition

Hospitality-sector associations in Kerala, India, are expected soon to encourage their members to display signs indicating that tobacco smoking is not permitted on their premises and to stop people smoking within their establishments, according to a Business Standard story.

According to India’s Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003, hotels, restaurants, coffee bars, pubs and bars fall under the ambit of public places, where tobacco smoking is banned.

In addition, hotel and restaurant owners have to display signs stating, “No Smoking Area—Smoking Here is an Offence,” in English and in the regional language.

Owners are required also to ensure that they provide no ashtrays, matches or other items designed to facilitate smoking.

A campaign to encourage the hospitality sector to obey the regulations is being mounted by, among others, the Kerala Hotels and Restaurants Association (KHRA), the South India Hotels and Restaurants Association and the South Kerala Hoteliers Forum.

G. Sudheesh Kumar, the state president of the 20,000-member-strong KHRA, said the association would use persuasion to encourage its members to comply with the regulations.

Compliance would be implemented in a phased manner, he apparently told the Standard.