Thailand starts 90-day trial of cigarette ban, violators to face one year in jail

Starting Feb. 1st. 2018, smoking will be strictly banned on all Thai beaches, which means having even a quick ciggie could land you in a Thai prison for a year or fined up to THB100,000 ($US3,000).

On Wednesday, 1st. Nov. 2017, Thailand launched a 90-day trial of the cigarette ban, prohibiting smoking on 24 beaches. During this three-month period, authorities will kick off a campaign to inform beachgoers of the law but won’t punish violators until the amnesty period ends.

The 24 beaches that have banned smoking include some of the country’s most popular destinations, including Patong, Phuket, Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Bo Phut, Koh Samui, Chalok Baan Kao, Koh Phangan, Khao Lak, Pangha and Kor Kwang, Krabi.

The ban will be anchored in the marine park law and comes on the heels of the shocking discovery of more than 60,000 cigarettes on a 2.5-kilometer stretch of sand on Phuket’s Patong beach.

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Photo credit @ Quinn Dombrowski – Communal ashtray