Updated 24th February 2005
In December 2004, Bhutan became the first country in the world to have banned the sale of tobacco products nationwide. Two months later, the Government announced smoke-free legislation in public places, public places being defined as ‘all places where people gather’. This includes parks, discotheques, entertainment centres, sports facilities including football grounds and archery ranges, commercial centres including shops, bars and restaurants, institutions like dzongs, hospitals, schools and government offices, public transport carriers, public gatherings such as tshechus, official receptions, national celebrations, and vegetable markets. Smoking corners will be prohibited, in what is seen to be a further move towards making Bhutan a smoke-free nation.
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