He explains that a lot of entertainment places ? actually his own night club ? have an outdoor area for smokers smoke. He considers that banning even these outdoor areas is too severe. ?It is unfair to deprive people of their freedom to smoke just to follow what is done abroad. It was a long process in Europe and governments did not come up with severe laws overnight. Those who can?t stand cigarette smoke can always choose to go to a non-smoking place.?

However, the chairperson of the anti-tobacco NGO Visa, Véronique Leclézio, congratulates the ministry of Health to have come forward with such proposals. ?We have been in the field for ten years to try and make people aware of the dangers of tobacco for their health. We are delighted with these regulations.?

She considers that banning smoking in public is not just a matter of public health but also of social justice. ?It is not acceptable that an employee has to be filled with smoke and poisoned during working hours.? For her, it is fair that Mauritius brings new regulations, as it has committed itself by ratifying the UN convention to protect non-smokers. ?It is true that the State earns Rs 2 billion from the tobacco industry in terms of taxes? But this is nothing compared to what the State spends in treatments related to tobacco.?

<B>STRAIGHT ANSWERS

Vishwanee Lingachetti</B>

<I>Corporate & Regulatory Affairs Manager, BAT</I>

● <B>How does British American Tobacco welcome the new regulations banning smoking in public areas and stricter regulations on the sale of cigarettes?</B>

British American Tobacco (BAT) recognises that tobacco consumption is associated with real and serious health risks. We therefore support appropriate regulations. For the regulations to be effective, however, they should be balanced and take into account the views and interests of all concerned. We welcome the approach of the government to seek the views of everybody.

● <B>Do you think they will have a great impact on BAT?</B>

It is really difficult to assess the potential impact on the company in Mauritius. However, gauging from what has happened elsewhere, we can say that stricter regulations do impact on tobacco companies and on planters, distributors, retailers as well as other stakeholders of the industry.

● <B>Do you believe the new regulations are too strict?</B>

At first sight, it seems that some areas are quite strict, e.g. health warnings covering 65% of the pack or total public smoking ban even in areas meant for entertainment. We believe that a gradual tightening of the laws accompanied by measures to educate the public of the dangers of smoking, as is the case in European countries, will achieve better results than drastic restrictions imposed overnight. Furthermore we must be careful that a situation of over regulation does not encourage illicit trade by those involved in organised crime as opposed to legal players mindful of complying with the laws.

● <B>Do you think they match the local context? </B>

We believe that the regulations will correspond to the Mauritian context if it balances the interests of all players: smokers, non-smokers, tobacco growers, the Tobacco Board, the hospitality industry, the retail industry and the government.