GRTU launches smoking in public places awereness campaign

The campaign is aimed at addressing the sanctions which the law provides in the case of breaches by patrons in public establishments, against the patrons themselves as well as the management of such public places.

Philip Fenech, President of theTourism, Hospitality & Leisure Division within the GRTU, said "the aim of the sticker campaign is to create an awareness first to our clients and also to owners. At certain times, clients do not adhere to the no-smoking policy of an establishment."

Fenech stressed that is a matter of instilling a law-abiding culture inside bars. "Customers and patrons must learn that there is no compromise on the smoking ban."

During a cordial meeting held with High Officials of the Executive Police, GRTU officials discussed the enforcement being carried out by the Police of the ban on smoking in public places.

The GRTU emphasized on the importance in the Police observing the discretion granted by Article 17 of the Tobacco (Smoking Control) Act (Chapter 315 of the Laws of Malta), in the event of persons being found smoking in public places, in relation to the operators of public establishments “who exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of the crime.

“Consequently if the operators have taken every possible care in preventing persons from smoking inside their establishments but patrons are still found breaking the law, then the establishment’s operators should not be prosecuted,” the Chamber said.

Following the campaign which the GRTU had embarked upon in 2004 when the regulations originally came into force, warning stickers are once more being distributed to establishments which prominently indicate that the venue a patron has entered into is a public place and that consequently smoking therein is prohibited.

“These stickers serve a dual purpose: that of informing the general public that it is against the law to smoke in a particular venue, as well as a direct message from an establishment’s management that they are adhering to the smoking in public places regulations, thus enforcing the smoking ban within their premises,” the GRTU said.

The GRTU invites operators of public establishments to collect their stickers, which are available in two sizes, from its offices in Republic Street Valletta. Further information may be obtained from Fenech on 99493534.