In addition to the listed places to ban smoking, hotel lobbies, lighting up will also be prohibited in all train compartments, health spas and places offering traditional Thai treatments, according to the Public Health Ministry.

The new regulation, to take effect before the end of the month, would add beauty salons offering treatments and health massage parlors to the list of smoke-free zones.

"We are also going to make all train compartments smoking-free. Currently, the regulation bans smoking only in air-conditioned train compartments," Public Health Minister Pinij Charusombat was quoted by The Nation newspaper as saying.

There are 11.3 million smokers and 52 million non-smokers in Thailand. Since smoking poses great threat to people's health and is a main cause of cancers, the non-smokers should be protected from tobacco fumes, said Phnij.

In 2002, the Public Health Ministry issued regulations declaring a number of places smoke-free, including buses, aircraft, elevators, public telephone booths, air-conditioned shopping centers and department stores, school buses, public piers, air- conditioned restaurants and theaters.

Based on basic requirements set by the ministry, Pinij said business owners will be allowed to design their own smoke-free zone signs.

Source: Xinhua