Smoking at wedding reception

My uncle, who had just gotten married, lit a cigarette in the middle of his own wedding reception. The venue was a hotel ballroom in Dar es Salaam, full of family, friends, and music. Hotel staff asked him politely to stop, but being the groom, he refused. They ended up calling hotel security, and he was escorted out of his own party. The reception turned chaotic, and my new aunt was visibly upset. I am not proud of how he behaved, but I think that, as the groom, the hotel staff were being overzealous. Is smoking indoors at a wedding really illegal? Please enlighten me.
GM, Dar es Salaam

We are sorry to hear that the wedding reception turned sour. Smoking in public places is actually against the law in Tanzania. According to section 12 of the Tobacco Products (Regulation) Act, (Act No. 2 of 2003, smoking is prohibited in public places such as hotels, restaurants, schools, health facilities, and public transport. Section 13 goes even further, stating that if smoking is to happen at all in such spaces, it must be confined to clearly marked smoking areas that have proper ventilation and signage.

Hence if your uncle decided to light up a cigarette inside the hotel ballroom during his own wedding reception, without a designated smoking area around, then yes, he was breaking the law. The hotel staff were not being overzealous when they asked him to stop, they were simply following the law. We think since your uncle ignored their request, they had little choice but to involve security. It may have seemed harsh, but hotels are legally responsible for ensuring guests comply with public health rules.

Beyond the law itself, these restrictions exist for good reason. Smoking indoors can seriously affect others, especially in crowded events like weddings, where children, elders, and non-smokers are sharing the space. It is not just about enforcing rules it is about protecting people. Being the man of the hour doesn’t give you a free pass, the law applies equally to everyone, wedding day or not. So next time someone’s feeling festive with a cigarette in hand, remind them there is a law against smoking in non-designated areas especially indoors. Consult your lawyer for further guidance.