A total ban on smoking in public places could have been introduced in Bulgaria, as in other European Union countries. But on February 1, the Government accepted a national programme for simply limiting smoking, without the text that contained a full smoking-ban proposal. According to the approved programme, only the current smoking restrictions will be kept. The new smoking-limiting document was drafted by specialists from the Health Ministry and co-ordinated with recommendations from the European Commission (EC).
The Health Ministry proposal for a full smoking ban in Bulgaria was probably influenced by recent ideas emerging in the EU to introduce such a measure for all EU member states. During the week of January 29, European Commissioner for Health Markos Kiprianu was supposed to plead to the EC for a full smoking ban in all EU-member countries. The outcome of the discussion is not yet known. However, a source from the EC said that “the adoption of such law is a possibility and it must not be disregarded. I wouldn’t go as far as to claim that Brussels would impose such a ban, but I would say that the EC approves Ireland’s approach”, Reuters news agency quoted on January 28.
Ireland is pointed to as an example, for it was the first country in the world to introduce a full smoking ban in 2004. So far in Europe, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, Switzerland, Malta, Lithuania, Latvia, France and Norway have introduced a full smoking ban. England is to follow in July, with Wales preceding it in April this year.
On February 1, France became the most recent country to introduce the same law. Currently, there, smoking is forbidden at companies, places of education, administrative buildings, trade and health centres, airports, train and bus stations, sports halls and on public transport. From January 2008, the ban will come into effect also for cafes, restaurants, casinos and clubs, which managed to secure an extension.
It is not yet clear as to why exactly a full smoking ban was not approved by the Bulgarian Government. Health Minister Radoslav Gaidarski said that the reasons were not only economic. Until February 2, the co-ordinator of the national programme for limiting smoking, doctor Masha Gavrilova, had no information as to why the text was declined. But according to Deputy Speaker of Parliament Lyuben Kornezov, should such an extreme ban be introduced in Bulgaria, it would simply not be followed, he told journalists on January 2.
Perhaps Kornezov has a point. In Bulgaria a partial smoking ban has been in force since 2005. Currently, the law says that smoking in public places is allowed only on the condition that there are specially designated non- and smoking sections, and a working ventilation system. Smoking locations must also be clearly signposted. Smoking is strictly forbidden at kindergardens, schools, universities, cinemas, theatres, galleries, libraries, internet cafes, food shops, on public transport and in taxis. Fines range from 5 to 100 leva.
Nonetheless, most often than not, the law is not heeded, or at least not fully. Many bars, cafes and restaurants try to get out of the situation by putting smoking and non-smoking tables right next to each other, without any sort of division between them. Others put a non-smoking sign on the table, but it is very likely that if one asked for an ashtray, it would be provided. Thus, in reality non-smokers are still pretty much forced to share the same smoky place with smokers.
Smokers themselves are not so much to blame. For 2006, only 185 000 leva were gathered from fines related to smoking at public places. Gavrilova opines that this is a large sum. But every-day witnessing of obvious smoke-related breach of law points towards the idea that this sum could and should be much higher. Gavrilova told The Sofia Echo that in 2006, 7374 public transport vehicles were checked for smoking law infringements. But it is a fact that smoking in taxis and public transport is still something very normal. A total of 1808 fines for natural persons and 695 for legal entities were imposed in 2006, Gavrilova said. “But unfortunately, our 1600 inspectors cannot be everywhere at all times.”
The currently adopted version of the smoking-limiting programme aims to reduce tobacco smoking by 10 per cent until 2010. Horrific images will be put on cigarette cartons aimed at making people think of the consequences of smoking. A raise of the cigarette excise duty, and hence of prices, is also planned for 2009. The programme will further fully ban any type of advertising that could be related to cigarettes. Currently, cigarette advertising is prohibited on television, radio and newspapers. However, billboards are still a popular means of tobacco promotion, so long as an actual image of cigarettes is not seen. A part of the programme will also include a telephone hotline to advise those wishing to quit smoking. Gradually, by 2010, Bulgaria is supposed to adopt EU requirements on cigarette content. According to them, 1mg of nicotine, 10mg of carbon monoxide, and 10mg of tar at most will be allowed.
Gavrilova says that “if we manage to at least implement the plans we have currently put forward, this will be good enough”.
Nonetheless, she believes that a full smoking ban will eventually become a fact in Bulgaria, whether people like it or not.
Moreover, according to Gaidarski, the majority of Bulgarians are in favour of a full ban on smoking. He based this opinion on social research that has apparently been implemented. Gavrilov assures that there are enough resources for the implementation of the programme and it is highly likely that it will be accomplished by 2010. Gaidarski also said that he had every hope that the law is good enough, and thus higher financial sanctions for law breaching of smoking at public places were not necessary. Indeed, as usual, it is more control that is needed.
