Thailand mulls smoking ban in prisons

Security guards stand at a gate inside Klong Prem high-security prison in Bangkok, Thailand, July 12, 2016. File photo: Jorge Silva/ Reuters
Security guards stand at a gate inside Klong Prem high-security prison in Bangkok, Thailand, July 12, 2016. File photo: Jorge Silva/ Reuters

Thailand’s prison population is about to go cold turkey.

With a planned revision to the Tobacco Act expected to ban the smoking and selling of cigarettes in Thai prisons as early as the end of the year, Director-General Naras Savestanan of the Department of Corrections yesterday met with the country’s Disease Control Department, who will be tasked with advising inmates on how to quit smoking in order to prepare for the ban.

Yep, nothing like trying to convince hardened inmates with longstanding nicotine addictions to give up one of their few simple pleasures.

While the legislation has yet to pass, lawmakers are currently drafting the act and seeking opinions of related agencies. The current law only states that smoking at government facilities must be done in designated areas.

After yesterday’s meeting, Naras said he was personally in favor of Thai prisons becoming smoke-free, Bangkok Biz News reported.

“I agree with motivating inmates to quit smoking because smokers tend to catch and die from respiratory illnesses,” Naras said.

Fair enough, though every prison movie we’ve ever seen tells us that cigs are currency in the joint, and we’re already envisioning a real breakdown in the black market barter system. Ed: How many cigs is it for a shiv these days anyway?

By the way, if you’re wondering about the scope of the task ahead, Thailand has more than 300,000 prisoners in 143 correctional facilities, and a whopping 40 percent are smokers. Good luck, guys.

Related:

Life behind bars: Ex-prisoners describe a typical day in Thai prison



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