Smokers in Myanmar's largest city of Yangon will have fewer places to light up. City officials plan to enforce a smoking ban that's already in place but has not always been imposed. Dave Grunebaum has the story.

At this bar and restaurant in downtown Yangon, customers cap off a hard day on the job with a drink and a smoke. They're not legally allowed to light up but they can get away with it. Under Myanmar's current laws smoking is banned in restaurants as well as other indoor public places. But these laws, which have been in place for years, are not always fully enforced. However, a new campaign is underway to change this.

DR. THAN SEIN PEOPLE'S HEALTH FOUNDATION "Right now we will do education awareness. Awareness campaign we start"

The People's Health Foundation, a private health advocacy group, is teaming up with the local government in Yangon for an anti-smoking campaign. Surveys show that about 41-percent of Myanmar men smoke and eight-percent of the woman do. This five-year campaign starts by focusing on downtown Yangon before going citywide. Health advocates say the push behind the anti-smoking drive is to protect non-smokers.

DR. THAN SEIN PEOPLE'S HEALTH FOUNDATION "Second hand smoke increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, hypertension as well and also diabetes."

DAVE GRUNEBAUM YANGON "At first the campaign will focus on educating people about the law and the risks of smoking. Health advocates and city officials are going door to door to restaurants, bars and stores to handout pamphlets and posters. Early on violators get warnings but eventually they'll face fines."

DR. THAN SEIN PEOPLE'S HEALTH FOUNDATION "We can not do enforcement straight away. We have to make sure that they must know about their responsibility first."

This downtown café has a strict no-smoking policy. Customer Tin Tin Ayea says this is one of the reasons why she likes coming here with her husband and nine-year-old son.

TIN TIN AYEA DINER "When we go to a restaurant and smell smoke, we don't feel like eating."

At a restaurant a few blocks away, Shwe Naing Aung enjoys rum and a cigarette with dinner. He says he's smoking here now because no one is stopping him, but he fully backs the government's plan to crackdown on smoking in public places.

SHWE NAING AUNG DINER "That's a very good idea. That's a very good idea for any country."

Health advocates admit it will take time for this smoking ban to be fully understood and enforced. But they say it's time to get started. DG, CGTN, YANGON, MYANMAR.