Smoking in Macau is regulated more strictly than in

mainland China "Mainland China" is a geopolitical term defined as the territory governed by the People's Republic of China (including islands like Hainan or Chongming), excluding dependent territories of the PRC, and other territories within Greater China. ...

, but not to the extent of the regulation of

smoking in Hong Kong Tobacco smoking in Hong Kong has declined in recent decades, with 10 percent of Hong Kongers smoking on a daily basis as of 2017. It is the policy of the Hong Kong government to discourage smoking. Smoking is banned in most public places and tobacc ...

. Smoking is prohibited in a number of places as per Law No. 5/2011. In May 2009 the government of the Macau Special Administrative Region announced a planned indoor

smoking ban Smoking bans, or smoke-free laws, are public policies, including criminal laws and occupational safety and health regulations, that prohibit tobacco smoking in certain spaces. The spaces most commonly affected by smoking bans are indoor work ...

for all public places, "to create a fair environment where smokers have the freedom to smoke and non-smokers also have the freedom not to inhale

second-hand smoke Passive smoking is the inhalation of tobacco smoke, called secondhand smoke (SHS), or environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), by persons other than the intended "active" smoker. It occurs when tobacco smoke enters an environment, causing its inhalat ...

," Health Bureau director Lei Chin Ion said. In April 2009 the government announced proposed legislation that sought to raise the tobacco

sales tax A sales tax is a tax paid to a governing body for the sales of certain goods and services. Usually laws allow the seller to collect funds for the tax from the consumer at the point of purchase. When a tax on goods or services is paid to a govern ...

by 300%. Casinos and gambling are a major aspect of

tourism in Macau Tourism is a major industry in Macau. It is famous for the blend of Culture of Portugal, Portuguese and Culture of China, Chinese cultures and its Gambling in Macau, gambling industry, which includes Casino Lisboa, Macau, Sands Macau, The Venetian ...

. Smoking is banned on the main floors of casinos, but is permitted in closed-off ventilated smoking areas, which are located on the casino floors. A majority of Macau residents support a total ban on smoking in public places, but lawmakers in closed session on 20 April 2010 were unable to reach a consensus regarding a total ban inside casinos. The increasing number of smokers is a cause for concern, as 17% of people in Macau smoke.

References

{{Macau topics Health in Macau

Macau Macau or Macao (; ; ; ), officially the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (MSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China in the western Pearl River Delta by the South China Sea. With a pop ...

See also

References