NGAWANG JAMPHEL Thimphu
To reinforce public health and environmental standards across the country, on 17 June, the Bhutan Food and Drug Authority (BFDA) issued a comprehensive public notification strictly banning smoking in all designated public areas.
While the official announcement outlines strict institutional boundaries and legal mechanisms, it is the immediate, tangible impact on everyday communal life that has captured the attention of the public.
The authority reminded the general public that smoking outside designated zones is a direct violation of Section 3 of the Tobacco Control (Amendment) Act of Bhutan 2021. With public health concerns rising, the enforcement strategy includes a strict fine of Nu 500 per incident for violators.
For citizens navigating shared urban spaces, this mandate represents a significant and welcome shift from passive policy to active public accountability.
For local business owners, the directive brings a mixture of relief and immediate operational responsibility. Under the clarified rules, commercial centres, including all local shops, shopping complexes, and supermarkets, must remain entirely smoke-free.
For years, shopkeepers have stood on the front lines of managing public behaviour, often without the necessary legal leverage to maintain clean environments.
“We often have to politely ask customers not to light up near our doorsteps, which can lead to awkward arguments,” said Passang Dorji, a grocery shopkeeper in Babesa, Thimphu.
He noted that the clarity of the new law makes a significant difference in how he runs his business on a daily basis.
“Now that the BFDA has clearly included shop vicinities and laid down a Nu 500 fine, it gives us the official backing we need to keep our storefronts clean and family-friendly.”
Shopkeepers also pointed out that the physical presence and visibility of tobacco products in retail spaces remain a serious challenge that requires greater community awareness. Public across urban centres have frequently noted that cigarettes and related products are often placed in prominent public view, making them easily visible to school-going children and teenagers.
“When children see adults smoking right outside a shop where sweets and school supplies are sold, it normalises the behaviour in their minds,” Passang Dorji added.
“By enforcing strict smoke-free zones right at our doorsteps, the authority helps us break that visual cycle. It forces smokers to move completely away from places where families and young children gather, protecting the next generation from picking up the habit,” he said.
The BFDA’s notification leaves no room for ambiguity regarding transit zones, explicitly detailing that smoking inside private vehicles is strictly prohibited if those vehicles are parked or operating in public places such as taxi stands, parking lots, and roadsides. This direct focus on public spaces has resonated deeply with the transport community, who spend most of their days on the roads.
“As a regular taxi driver, I highly appreciate this move,” remarked Sonam Tobgay, who operates a taxi along the busy Thimphu–Paro highway.
He explained that the close proximity of vehicles at stands means that one person’s habit quickly becomes everyone else’s problem.
“Even if it’s a private car, the smoke drifts out into the open when windows are down, affecting pedestrians and children standing nearby. It ensures that the air remains fresh for everyone waiting at the stands.”
Taxi drivers and bus operators believe that clear rules will reduce friction between passengers and drivers, establishing a shared understanding of what is acceptable in public transport hubs.
For regular residents, particularly parents, the stricter enforcement measures are seen as a long-overdue step toward safeguarding community health. The sweeping ban covers crowded areas such as vegetable markets, bus terminals, and traditional open-air celebrations.
Pema Choden, a resident of Changzamtog, recalled having to constantly navigate around clouds of secondhand smoke during crowded festivals and weekend shopping trips.
“This strict reminder shows the government is serious about prioritising public health over individual habits. Nu 500 is a fair deterrent to ensure people think twice before lighting up.”
Public health advocates agree that protecting sacred cultural spaces, such as dzongs, monasteries, and festivals, preserves not only the physical environment but also the spiritual and social harmony of these gatherings.
To ensure that the public notification leads to genuine behavioural change rather than remaining simple legal text, the BFDA has made it clear that the financial penalties will be enforced uniformly across the country.
The Director of the BFDA expressed gratitude in an official statement, thanking the general public for their ongoing cooperation and support in promoting a healthier society.
Ultimately, the success of the tightened ban rests on the willingness of citizens to hold themselves and each other accountable.
