Complaints about people puffing away in places like bus stops and on trains continue to pour in

Most smokers remain unaware of bans in public areas, even though these have been in place for years, the Public Health Ministry says.

The ministry receives many complaints about public-place smoking, its permanent secretary Dr Prat Boonyawongvirot explains.

Most illegal public smoking is at railway stations and on trains, totalling more than half the complaints. Other places are bus terminals and stops and the airport.

"This shows us lots of people are unaware of regulations prohibiting smoking," Prat says. If you are caught smoking in a public place, the maximum fine is Bt2,000.

Disease Control Department deputy chief Dr Seree Hongyok says there are plenty of refuse bins with ashtrays attached for smokers to extinguish cigarettes before entering public places.

The ban has been enforced since 2006 in an effort to protect people from the harmful effects of cigarette smoke.