Thailand has taken a step to curb the number of such deaths by implementing a law that bans smoking inside the house. The law that comes under the Family Protection and Development Promotion Act was initiated by the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security and was announced in the Royal Gazette on May 22, 2019.
Owing to the hazardous effects of smoke on people residing inside the house, indoor smoking will be considered equivalent to domestic violence as per the new law.
Department of Women’s Affairs and Family Development chief Lertpanya Booranabundit earlier elaborated on the topic during the 18th National Conference on Tobacco and Lung Health held in Bangkok in May 2019.
“If it can be proved that the health problems of family members stem from second- or third-hand smoke at home, it can lead to two court trials: one in Criminal Court for ‘domestic assault’ via smoke and the other at the Central Juvenile and Family Court. This could lead to a court injunction to protect the health of family members, with the smoker being sent to a rehabilitation center to kick the habit,” he had said.
