Anti-smoking inspectors fined 3,744 people for illegally puffing away in the first nine months of this year, the Health Bureau (SSM) has announced.
The number reported in the first three quarters of this year represented a year-on-year increase of 30.1 percent from the 2,877 recorded in the same period of last year.
The bureau announced Macau’s anti-smoking data for the first nine months of this year in a statement on Tuesday.
In Macau, smoking is banned in all indoor public venues and facilities, except smoking lounges in casinos and at the airport.
In addition, smoking is also prohibited at certain outdoor public venues such as public parks and gardens, public beaches, footbridges, pedestrian underpasses, as well as an area within 10 metres of all public bus stops.
Illegal smoking carries a fixed fine of 1,500 patacas.
In addition to the 3,744 cases of illegal smoking, according to the statement, the Health Bureau, in conjunction with inspectors from other relevant public entities, fined 196 travellers for bringing e-cigarettes into or taking them out of Macau in the first three quarters of this year, while 103 offenders were fined for violating various other rules listed in the Tobacco Prevention and Control Law.
According to the statement, 842 out of the illegal smoking cases reported in the first nine months occurred in casinos, 552 in restaurants and other eateries, and 319 in parks and sitting-out areas.
11 fined for alcohol-related offences
Meanwhile, the statement also announced that in the first three quarters of this year, the bureau’s anti-alcohol inspectors fined 11 offenders for violating the Law on the Prevention and Control on Minors’ Consumption of Alcoholic Beverages, including three cases for selling minors alcoholic drinks or providing them with such drinks at public venues.
According to the law, those selling alcoholic beverages to minors at public venues will be fined 20,000 patacas. The 20,000-pataca fine will also cover those providing alcoholic drinks to minors at public venues for commercial purposes.
The statement also reminded that even for non-commercial purposes, anyone is also barred from providing alcoholic beverages to minors at public venues. Nevertheless, violators in such circumstances will face a less heavy fine, ranging between 1,500 patacas and 20,000 patacas.
This undated handout photo released by the Health Bureau (SSM) on Tuesday shows its anti-alcohol staff inspecting an eatery.
