[Intl-tobacco] S Africa: Rothmans Cup Up In Smoke In Line With New Tobacco Law

[Robert Weissman]

Rothmans Cup Up In Smoke In Line With New Tobacco Law
by Marjolein Harvey / WOZA Internet (Johannesburg)
Source: All-Africa.com, Thursday, 12/14/00
Johannesburg

The Premier Soccer League bid farewell to the Rothmans Cup on Thursday
night.  Rothmans, who sponsored the event since 1996, had to pull out due
to legislation banning sponsorship of sport by tobacco companies.

Also in line with the new anti-tobacco legislation - which bans smoking in
public places from January 1, 2001 - SA's airports will soon all be
smoke-free, according to the Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA).

Mafahle Mareletse, ACSA's Executive Director of Retail, said that there is
a growing international trend toward smoke-free airports.

In South Africa however, smoking will still be permitted in designated
areas after the passport and security control checks at the three
international airports; Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban, but only in
specially designated smoking rooms which ACSA will provide.

"This is because of the considerable time international travellers may
spend in these areas prior to departure, often on a long flight where
smoking is also prohibited," said Mareletse.

However, domestic travelers will have to go outside the airport terminal
buildings to smoke.

ACSA has advised its retailers and restaurants of the changes to be
implemented from January 01, 2001. They have the option of designating
smoking zones inside their trading area for smokers.

These must fully comply with the new Tobacco Products Control Amendment
Act.

"In light of infrastructure changes that are required and the forthcoming
builders' holiday, ACSA has applied for a three-month extension - allowed
by the Act - to phase in a complete ban on smoking in public areas in
terms of the Act by the end of March 2001," he said.

The six-phase implementation process Immediate With immediate effect, the
new Act stipulates that signs advertising the sale of tobacco products in
retail stores may not be more than a metre away from the point of sale and
must be inside the store. They must all include health warnings, and shops
must display signs indicating that cigarettes may not be sold to people
under 16.

There is also an immediate ban on placing cigarette vending machines in
places that are accessible to people under 16.

The Act also prohibits manufacturers, distributors and importers or
retailers from offering tobacco products for free or cheaper. It also
prevents any person offering any gift, cash rebate or the right to
participate in any contest, lottery or gaming consideration of a tobacco
product.

January 1, 2001. Although the law took immediate effect in October this
year, businesses had until January 1, 2001 to comply with the necessary
structural changes. Employers must also have a written policy on smoking
by January 1, 2001.

April 23, 2001. Effective on this date are the regulations relating to
advertising and sponsorship, which effectively ban cigarette advertising.
Where advertising and sponsorship contracts were binding on April 23, 1999
these contracts may continue until April 2001. In addition, free
promotional cigarettes may not be given out any longer.

December 2001. By this stage, the amount of tar and nicotine in cigarettes
will have to be reduced to a maximum of 15mg of tar and 1.5mg of nicotine
per cigarette.

June 2006. Effective this date, the amount of tar and nicotine per
cigarette must be further reduced to a maximum of 12mg tar and 1.2mg of
nicotine.