Beaches paradise of the world is also becoming health conscious. High spending cigarette smoking visitors from Japan might be deterred from visiting this island. Its new law hopes to protect people from secondhand smoke.
The Smoke-Free Hawaii Law was put into force on Thursday, it forbids smoking in all public places such as restaurants, bowling alleys, malls as well as from curb to cabin at airports. Rules have become stricter as now lighting a cigarette in partially enclosed areas, bars and less than 20 feet from doorways and windows is illegal.
Businesses in Hawaii failing to comply with the law face fines up to $100 for the first offense, $200 for the second offense, and up to $500 for each additional violation. Individual violators of the smoking law may be fined up to $50 plus court costs
Chris Kiaha, a bartender at the Sheraton Moana Surfrider in Waikiki, is worried she says:
What happened to our civil rights?We don’t have sugar cane anymore. We don’t really have pineapples. What are we going to do if we lose tourism?
Though Hawaii is trying to put across the law as a clean environment policy and not a ban it still might have a negative backlash on tourism.I feel the law was needed and will only provide a cleaner environment and fresher air to breathein.
Via: USAToday
