If you’re a smoker, you might want to avoid the US Virgin Islands and Hawaii in the near future. They have become the latest areas to loudly proclaim: “NO SMOKING.”
The British territory’s Legislative Council in the Islands unanimously approved a smoking ban despite concerns about the effect on tourism in the islands, where visitors seem more likely to smoke than residents.
There’s a six-month grace period but after that, smokers will not be allowed to light up in enclosed public places, including bars and restaurants. Also banned is smoking within 50 feet of a door or window. That means some spaces in the narrow, winding streets of Road Town, the capital, will be off limits to smokers.
Other Caribbean islands have recently imposed smoking prohibitions.
Hawaii is also banning smoking within 20 feet of public buildings, including restaurants, bars, lobbies, offices, airports and other areas.
Exceptions include state prisons and hotels, which can designate 20% of their rooms for smokers (as long as they are on the same floor).
“At the airports, smoking will be banned cabin to curbside. We’ll make an effort to educate visitors about the new law,” state Transportation Department spokesman Scott Ishikawa told Associated Press.
Individual violators face $50 fines.
Report by David Wilkening
