The ruling Junta’s lame-duck government has passed a law extending the nationwide ban on smoking to pubs and clubs starting February 17.

Immediate reaction from one semi-informed smoker was to dismiss the new edict with a laugh. “They passed a ban 4 years ago.”

“Yes, and that was for air-conditioned stores and restaurants, schools, hospitals, clinics and government offices.”

“I’ve smoked in restaurants,” he announced proudly, as if it were a victory for the forces of tobacco. “The coppers won’t enforce the rule.”

“Have you seen any cops smoking in uniform?”

The answer was no and after 2/17 anyone caught smoking in a bar, pub, or restaurant will be fined 2000 baht and have to look at the ghastly photos on cigarette packets.

“These pictures are fakes.” A Thai friend declared with a Marlboro hanging from his lip. “I know hundreds of smokers and have never seen anyone this bad.”

“I have.” I lied and he shivered with a cough, as I explained about a special tobacco ward in the Banglamung Hospital. Only smokers without jaws and holes in their chests. “And they can’t stop smoking.”

“And neither will I. They will have to pull my cigarette from my dying lips.”

And Big Tobacco swears tobacco is not addicting?

The government is reacting to the fact that Asian men are heavy smokers with more than 12 million people smoking out of a population of 64 million people. Hundreds of thousands die each year, but no one is hunting down tobacco executives as mass murderers.

Because the state gets tax from them.

How many people died of ganga smoking last year?

Zero.

But you can go to jail for smoking a single joint.

I believe smokers should have a private area in a bar where they can kill themselves, but only if they agree to the legalization of marijuana, otherwise the hypocrites can go smoke in the rain and heat of the midday sun.

Nigeria is trying to rip the lungs out of the Big 3 with $44bn lawsuit.

British American Tobacco (BAT), Philip Morris and International Tobacco Ltd, say they have never targeted children. 

“We haven’t got a clue where the government got the amount they are asking for. Much of what they claim doesn’t add up,” said British American Tobacco spokesperson in London Catherine Armstrong.

I believe you, but my friends think you are lying, since in Nigeria tobacco salesmen go to school and sell ‘sticks’ to kids.

In New York City they were known as ‘loosies’.

Only for kids.

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https://www.mangozeen.com/when-the-punishment-fits-the-crime.htm