Health Bureau Smoking Mad Over Noncompliance with Macau Smoking Ban

Macau s revenue numbers for 2013 have lit up, but now the Special Administrative District s Health Bureau has smoke coming out of their ears: it turns out that 64% of the area s casinos may not be in compliance with a no smoking edict that was supposed to go into effect as of the first of the year. In a country notorious for the number of per capita smokers, it turns out it isn t easy going smoke-free.

Air Quality Sub-Par

The revelations follow the Health Bureau s recent air quality evaluations of the smoking areas in two out of three of the casino and slot parlors tested as below satisfactory levels. Yes, you read that right: they tested the smoking areas and were surprised to find -say what, now? smoke levels that were somewhat high. Don t worry, we re scratching our heads right along with you on this one.

Were the nonsmoking areas supposed to lighten the stinky air in the smoky areas? Is there any science involved in a supposition like that?  Again, we still don t understand the point of testing smoky air for, of all things, smoke. Simply amazing.

Health Bureau Evaluates

Okay, they did also grab some air samples off the mass gaming floors and the ventilation systems. What a surprise! Smoke particles were discovered (thus the term second-hand smoke, all you champions of the cancer sticks); in fact, out of 44 casinos and slot parlors tested, 28 were found guilty of not complying with at least one of six reference air quality requirements laid out in the partial smoking ban.

We feel this would be a good time to point that a partial smoking ban is like being somewhat pregnant; you have to pick your camp. Smoke, in case you missed this in science class, moves and fills the air. Hello, do we need to explain everything?

Shape Up or Pay Up

Not to be trifled with, Macau s Secretary for Economy and Finance (you see the smoking synergy, right?) Francis Tam Pak Yuen has told the offending casinos to take the appropriate corrective measures to meet the minimum air quality standards, or get ready to pony up some of their rather healthy profits to the state.

Then he softened his words a tad by saying the approach right now is a collaborative, step-by-step one, which is one of those things government officials say when they don t want to tick off their constituents too much.

Now we will refrain from all the obvious tag-line cigarette jokes, and just say:  clean up your act, Macau casinos.