Bhutan - strict tobacco control law went into effect January 1, 2011..

January 7, 2011 - Starting this month the Bhutanese government has put into “serious practice” its draconian "Tobacco Control Act..", which was enacted on June 1, 2009. According to this act, any citizen in defiance can be charged with a fourth degree felony that can fetch a prison term of 5 – 9 years.

Although this should be more of a hindrance to smokers and businessmen, even citizens who don’t smoke are beginning to question the number of bans infringing on their privacy and freedom, and the misplaced emphasis on cigarettes rather than alcohol and drugs. Truth, a commenter on Tshering Tobgay's blogpost titled “Parliament passes Tobacco Control Bill”.

Just yesterday BusinessBhutan tweeted “Authorities will raid drayangs (houses of prostitution) & discotheques today evening to ensure the compliance to the new tobacco control rules”. Nothing unfamiliar. In 2005, Bhutanese legislators had banned sales of all tobacco products ostentatiously becoming the first nation in the world to take smoking bans way further than the rest. Bhutanese officials seemed to welcome and gloat in international media coverage for having done so. At that time authorities even burned stashes of tobacco products worth millions of Ngultrums legitimately purchased.

Kuensel reported that according to the new Act, a Bhutanese above 18 years of age is allowed to import 200 sticks of cigarettes or 30 pieces of cigars, or 150g of other tobacco products a month. They will be charged 200 percent sales tax and customs duty for tobacco products originating from countries other than India and 100 percent on those from India.

When the items are declared at Customs, the person will be issued a receipt reflecting the details of his import and his identity. The receipt will be valid for a month from date of issue and the person will have to have the receipt of him at the time of smoking – in case he is asked by the law to produce validity.

Which leaves you wondering about the logistics of how this can be implemented. The ban on smoking and cigarette sales that arose in 2005 became largely ineffective, for reasons that it was an ill-thought and impractical process, which in turn became something of an embarrassment in the end rather than something to be proud of when people were still found puffing away to glory.

And how popular is this Act? While it does have health benefits, voices on online forums point out the fallacy of such a law.

Under the thread “Tobacco and Receipts” on Bhutantimes.com, an online forum where Bhutanese give vent to their feelings on issues mostly under pseudonyms. Click here to view discussion..

Reference: Bhutan: Criminalizing The Use Of Tobacco Stirs Outrage, By Sonam Ongmo, Global Voices, 1/8/2011.

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