In 2025, the Macau Health Services (SSM), in collaboration with other entities, recorded a total of 5,474 tobacco and alcohol-related offenses, representing an increase of 27.9% over the previous year, with 1,194 more cases.
This increase in detection is due to the continued implementation of the “Smoking Prevention and Control Regime” and the “Prevention and Control of Alcohol Consumption by Minors Regime,” combined with intensified inspections in various locations.
In the area of tobacco, 5,008 cases of illegal smoking were detected, an increase of 1,064 occurrences compared to 2024. Cases of electronic cigarettes being transported across borders also rose significantly, to 316 cases, representing an increase of 102.6%. Other violations included failure to display “no smoking” signs and warnings prohibiting the sale of tobacco to minors, totaling 134 cases (an increase of 3.9%).
Casinos lead the ranking of places with the highest number of smoking violations, with 1,111 cases (22.2%), followed by restaurants with 780 cases (15.6%) and gardens and leisure areas with 414 cases (8.3%).
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The analysis indicates that the increase in violations is due not only to the higher number of tourists—cases involving visitors rose from 2,063 in 2024 to 3,050 in 2025, an increase of almost 48% — but also to more intensive inspections (more than 240,700 carried out in 2025) and the failure of some entities to enforce the law correctly.
With regard to alcohol, 16 suspected cases of law violations were recorded, six of which involved the sale or supply of alcoholic beverages to minors. Other violations included the absence of prohibition signs, failures in the demarcation of self-service areas, and the lack of warnings in Chinese, Portuguese, and English in advertisements for alcoholic beverages.
During inspections, minors were found consuming alcohol in a restaurant without staff intervention, and proceedings were initiated against the establishment. Parents and schools were notified about the risks associated with early alcohol consumption.
The SSM reminds the public that, according to Law No. 6/2023, providing alcoholic beverages to minors is illegal and punishable by a fine of 1,500 to 20,000 patacas, while establishments that do not display the mandatory signs can be fined up to 200,000 patacas.
