Anti-smoking inspectors fined 5,008 people for illegally smoking in 2025, representing an increase of 27.0 per cent from 2024, the Health Bureau (SSM) announced in a statement last night.
In Macau, smoking is banned in all indoor public venues and facilities, except for smoking lounges in casinos and at the airport. Additionally, smoking is prohibited in certain outdoor public areas such as public parks and gardens, public beaches, footbridges, pedestrian underpasses, and within 10 metres of all public bus stops.
Illegal smoking carries a fixed fine of 1,500 patacas.
In addition to the 5,008 cases of illegal smoking, the Health Bureau, in conjunction with inspectors from other relevant public entities, fined 316 travellers for bringing e-cigarettes into or taking them out of Macau last year, while 134 offenders were fined for violating various other regulations outlined in the Tobacco Prevention and Control Law.
According to the statement, 1,111 of the illegal smoking cases reported last year occurred in casinos, 780 in restaurants and other eateries, and 414 in parks and sitting-out areas.
Under Macau’s anti-smoking law, specifically the Tobacco Prevention and Control Law, the Health Bureau can designate additional outdoor public venues as no-smoking zones beyond those listed in the law. Since November 24 last year, smoking has been banned in outdoor areas within 10 metres of the entrances to three schools and a crèche on a permanent basis. Those violating the smoking ban will be fined 1,500 patacas.
16 Fined for Alcohol-Related Offences
Meanwhile, last night’s statement also announced that last year the bureau’s anti-alcohol inspectors fined 16 offenders for violating the Law on the Prevention and Control of Minors’ Consumption of Alcoholic Beverages, including six cases involving the sale of alcoholic drinks to minors or providing them with such drinks at public venues.
According to the law, anyone selling alcoholic beverages to minors at public venues faces a fine of 20,000 patacas. The 20,000-pataca fine also applies to those providing alcoholic drinks to minors at public venues for commercial purposes.
The statement also reminded the public that even for non-commercial purposes, providing alcoholic beverages to minors at public venues is prohibited. However, violators in such circumstances face a more lenient fine, ranging between 1,500 and 20,000 patacas.
This undated handout photo released by the Health Bureau (SSM) yesterday shows its anti-smoking and anti-alcohol staff entering a restaurant for inspection.
