SOUTH AFRICA:Mandela Returns Anti-Smoking Bill() (fwd)

[Robert Weissman <rob@essential.org>]

Mandela Returns Anti-Smoking Bill

by AP (1661) SOUTH AFRICA;  Date: Friday, 1/22/99
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Thursday, January 21, 1999; 10:22 p.m. EST

PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) -- President Nelson Mandela on Thursday
returned a controversial anti-smoking bill to Parliament for more work,
citing concerns about its constitutionality.

Mandela said he was concerned the bill could be misinterpreted as banning
smoking in private dwellings, which was not its intention, and that it
could be used to infringe on freedom of association.

The president said he agreed that smoking should be prohibited in most
public places and smoking-related advertising should be banned.

The bill outlaws smoking in enclosed public places like train stations,
shopping malls and in the workplace. Bars and restaurants with designated
smoking areas escape the ban.

It also bans all tobacco advertising and sponsorship. Even ads for
products such as drinks and clothes would be banned from showing people
smoking. ------------------------------------------------------ 1:25 AM on
1/22/99