Banjarmasin strengthens smoke free area regulations

Banjarmasin, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Banjarmasin City Legislative Council (DPRD) and the city government have agreed to strengthen regulations on smoke free area to protect public health by creating clean and healthy environment.

The council's Deputy Speaker Mathari stated here on Monday that the regulation would be strengthened by revising the old regulation, Regional Regulation (Perda) No. 7 of 2013 concerning Smoke Free Areas.

"why should we revise it? There are regulations, but they are not optimal," he said.

By drafting the new regulations, he said, there will be certainly strengthening in term of concrete implementation on the ground.

"For example, there will have to be a separate room for smokers in every public place, this will be strictly regulated," Mathari explained.

Read also: Health Ministry asks regions to apply smoke-free area policy actively

He said it must be recognized that not everything can be regulated when it comes to smoking in society, but this s an effort to narrow the space so that smoking people do not have a negative impact on the health of other members of the public who do not smoke.

Deputy Mayor Hj Ananda emphasized that the draft regulation is important to protect public health by creating clean and healthy environment.

“Health is a basic right of every citizen. Thus, a smoke free area policy is needed to protect the public, both active and passive smokers, especially vulnerable groups,” she pointed out.

She added that this regulation align with Law Number 17 of 2023 concerning Health and Government Regulation Number 28 of 2024 concerning Control of Tobacco Products as Addictive Substances.

Read also: Banjarmasin Residents Comitted to Smoke-free Home

Furthermore, this draft regulation also strengthening public awareness campaign, to ensure that everyone adheres to it.

The old Regional Regulation No. 7 of 2013 stipulated that locations must be smoke-free include health facilities, schools or learning places, children's play areas, places of worship, public transportation, workplaces and designated public places.

"Other locations will be added later in the draft discussion, of course with stricter supervision," she said.