advertisement
Sat, Feb 11 2012
Croatia reverses smoking ban in public places
On September 10 2009 the ban on smoking in bars and cafes in Croatia was partially repealed, local media has reported. Proprietors with establishments that are up to 50 sq m will now be able to choose whether to allow smoking. Larger establishments will have to include a designated and separately ventilated smoking area
Croatia's government is reneging on the ban because cafe owners have been complaining, putting a severe strain on the decision to follow the rest of Europe and forbid smoking in bars and restaurants. The U-turn comes in the tourism-dependent country which has more than 5800 restaurants and almost 10 000 bars - mostly cafes - with more than 100 000 employees.
Since the anti-smoking law was adopted in May 2009, establishments in Croatia, especially those without terraces, reported a "significant decrease in business," an association of about 16 000 owners said, according to the state-run HINA news agency.
.
Owners of bars and restaurants claim that the ban was too drastic and should be amended and implemented in such a way as to avoid the "collapse of the sector".
.
One proposal stipulated that proprietors of establishments of less than 50 sq metres that only serve drinks should be left to decide whether they will be a smoking or non-smoking location. Larger establishments, on the other hand, should be allowed to designate a third of their capacity for smokers, who will also be served food and drinks, the report says.
.
Fines of up to 2100 euros for individuals and up to 21 000 euros for business owners are imposed on those violating the smoking ban.
.
The Croatian Government decided to ban smoking in early 2008 in public institutions such as hospitals, clinics, schools, nurseries and universities. The ban came into effect on November 7 2008, but in May 2009 the government passed a full ban, forbidding smoking in all closed public places, including bars, restaurants and cafes.
It is estimated that 30 per cent of Croatia’s adult population smoke.
Croatia's government is reneging on the ban because cafe owners have been complaining, putting a severe strain on the decision to follow the rest of Europe and forbid smoking in bars and restaurants. The U-turn comes in the tourism-dependent country which has more than 5800 restaurants and almost 10 000 bars - mostly cafes - with more than 100 000 employees.
Since the anti-smoking law was adopted in May 2009, establishments in Croatia, especially those without terraces, reported a "significant decrease in business," an association of about 16 000 owners said, according to the state-run HINA news agency.
.
Owners of bars and restaurants claim that the ban was too drastic and should be amended and implemented in such a way as to avoid the "collapse of the sector".
.
One proposal stipulated that proprietors of establishments of less than 50 sq metres that only serve drinks should be left to decide whether they will be a smoking or non-smoking location. Larger establishments, on the other hand, should be allowed to designate a third of their capacity for smokers, who will also be served food and drinks, the report says.
.
Fines of up to 2100 euros for individuals and up to 21 000 euros for business owners are imposed on those violating the smoking ban.
.
The Croatian Government decided to ban smoking in early 2008 in public institutions such as hospitals, clinics, schools, nurseries and universities. The ban came into effect on November 7 2008, but in May 2009 the government passed a full ban, forbidding smoking in all closed public places, including bars, restaurants and cafes.
It is estimated that 30 per cent of Croatia’s adult population smoke.
-
Print
-
Send via email
- Translate to
-
Share:
Comments
To post comments, please, Login or Register.
Please read the The Sofia Echo forum comments policy.
New smoking bans in force in Cyprus, Macedonia
Tougher restrictions imposed by governments in Nicosia and Skopje came into force on January 1 2010.
Greece to re-evaluate smoking ban amid widespread resistance
Authorities will launch a review of the law that was passed earlier this year, following complaints from non-smokers at home and pressure from the European Union.
Burning money
To raise revenue and discourage smoking, Bulgaria is poised to radically raise cigarette excises from 2010
Editorial: Smoking and sin taxes
The term "sin tax" has been applied to excises on tobacco and liquor. In Bulgaria, the idea of taxing smoking to the hilt seems an idea that is overripe.
Weekend blog: Sinful cinema smoking
Most actors smoked during Hollywood's golden age but the time has come to stamp out smoking in films completely
Turkey bans smoking in bars, cafés and restaurants
Ban, taking effect on July 19 2009, extends an earlier ban issued in May 2008 on smoking in offices, public transport and other public places. Turkey’s health minister says that ban brought down smoking by seven per cent.
Full public smoking ban made official
In spite of the controversy and speculation that the ban would only add fuel to the economic crisis in Bulgaria, the ban has been passed on second reading, making it final and official.
More in this category
Auction reveals Ceausescu’s personal age of plenty
Iranian silver-plated pigeons, African leopard skins and a Chinese bronze yak were among the 70 items sold in an auction of gifts presented to Romania’s former dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife Elena.
EC praises airports for progress in dealing with extreme weather
Airports were also showing signs of better co-ordination and providing passengers with accurate real-time information, compared to previous period of travel disruption, transport commissioner Siim Kallas said.
Hungary's PM condemns international critics amid economic uncertainty
Viktor Orban defends government's record, new constitution in state-of-the-nation address as he slams European Commission.
Polish PM, digitalisation minister hold public debates on ACTA ratification
PM Donald Tusk invited authors, NGOs, experts and bloggers to a debate on the ACTA copyright agreement, but several key organisations, including the Helsinki Foundation, rejected the invitation claiming that the talks will likely offer no opportunity to discuss concrete issues.
Protesters clash in Budapest as controversial theatre director takes stage
'Dirty Jews' and 'Dirty Nazis' were the most popular chants when two groups clashed in front of Új Színház (New Theatre)
© 2000-2012, Sofia Echo Media Ltd.
Web Design by RIZN
Sofia Echo Media is part of the Economedia Group.
The news and information content on this website is provided by our editorial team and is copyrighted.
Any unauthorised reproduction or use of it is strictly forbidden. Reproduction of this website's content is permitted only
with prior written permission from the Editor-in-Chief, should be propertly acredited and provide an active link back to our site.
Comments posted by the website's visitors are independent of the editorial materials and do not represent the views of sofiaecho.com.
Sofia Echo Media cannot be held responsible for the statements contained in visitor comments.
The percentаge change in the shares' prices are based on the price of the last transaction of the current session compared to the
price of the last transaction of the previous session. Bulgarian Stock Exchange data is not real-time, but updated every 15 minutes,
and should not be used as a basis for decisions about buying or selling stock options.
- Economedia Group portfolio:
- In Bulgarian:
-
Business:
Капитал,
Кариери,
Пазари,
Ho Re Mag,
Регал,
Градът.bg,
Одит,
Foton.bg,
Online shop
- News: Дневник, Европа, Foreign Policy - България
- IT: IDG.BG, Computerworld, PC World, CIO, Networkworld
- Entertainment: Бакхус
-
In English:
The Sofia Echo
Smokers can smoke all they want as long as they don't force that smoke into my lungs. They have no right to play with my health or the health of children who have no say if they wish to be exposed to this filthy habit or not.
What about workers in those establishments full of smoke? All they want is to earn a living. Why do they have to risk their lives?
The way I see it, either they ban smoking indoors or those employees have every right to sue their employer [...]
Read the full comment for not providing a safe working environment for them.
Smoke all you want but make sure that nobody else gets hurt as a result of your habit.
You have no right to expose others to danger.
In Australia we just had a law passed that it is illegal to smoke in your car if you have children in that car. Finally the kids are being protected.
Kelly, you are a second class citizen. You are a pathetic and selfish smoker.
What they have done is fair to both smokers and non smokers alike, people have a choice. Great! If only our own New Labour government would see sense in providing people with choice, rather than treating smokers like lepers forcing them to stand out in the rain.Lets hope the New Labour lifestyle dictators lose the next election.
What they have done is fair to both smokers and non smokers alike, people have a choice. Great! If only our own New Labour government would see sense in providing people with choice, rather than treating smokers like lepers forcing them to stand out in the rain.Lets hope the New Labour lifestyle dictators lose the next election.
Sonia, how stupid are you? Why don’t you visit one of the many non –smoking establishments? Fascists like you make me sick
Oh, and just when I was thinking of visiting this beautiful country.....
No, thanks, no tobacco-stinking places for this tourist!
How can and liberal minded right thinking person not agree with this.
Because ASH and the zealots are not rational thinking people, they're the devils incarnate.
But at last a government that is made up of sensible politicans not in thrall to WHO, ASH and the rest of the anti-smoking-propganda-brigade.
What the Croatian government has done makes perfect sense and is fair.
Lucky, lucky Crotaians, I shall be looking to taking a holiday there, to go to a place where I'm not [...]
Read the full comment demonised or treated as a 2nd class citizen.
How can and liberal minded right thinking person not agree with this.
Because ASH and the zealots are not rational thinking people, they're the devils incarnate.
But at last a government that is made up of sensible politicans not in thrall to WHO, ASH and the rest of the anti-smoking-propganda-brigade.
What the Croatian government has done makes perfect sense and is fair.
Lucky, lucky Crotaians, I shall be looking to taking a holiday there, to go to a place where I'm not [...]
Read the full comment demonised or treated as a 2nd class citizen.
That sounds fair enought. Now everyone will be catered for, not just the vocal anti smoking nazis! How can any liberal minded right thinking person not agree with this?