‘Proposed smoking laws too harsh’
ALEXANDRA - A tour of taverns in Alexandra will be undertaken on 17 August to gauge the mood of tavern owners on the proposed strict smoking regulations.
The Gauteng Liquor Forum has rejected the Minister of Health Aaron Motsoaledi’s attempts to push through his harsh anti-smoking regulations.
The new laws, once passed, will restrict smoking outdoors to within 10 metres of any door or window. Needless to say the regulations are completely unrealistic in the context of a township tavern or shebeen where the next door or window is often within one metre of the next, the forum noted.
A visit to gauge the mood of tavern owners will be conducted in Alexandra on Saturday 17 August and will be hosted by Linda Madida, the president of the forum, together with the general secretary of the Responsible Alexandra Food and Beverage Association Cedric Chauke. They will discuss what the proposed public place smoking regulations would actually mean for township tavern owners.
