Smoking ban causes controversy - but is it justified?
The amendments to the Health Act, passed on first reading, set to impose a full ban on smoking in public places in Bulgaria, have led to a war of words between the tourist industry, businesses and those in favour of the ban.
Tourist organisations, hotels and other industry-related enterprises are up in arms, arguing that in the midst of a crippling economic crisis, a complete ban would make matters worse. They say that a sensitive, phased approach should be implemented instead. "A gradual process rather than a complete ban is a lot more sensitive," said Blagoi Ragin, president of the Bulgarian Hotel and Restaurant Association (BHRA), as quoted by Bulgarian news agency BTA on April 16.
"Prohibition would squeeze the turnover of bars and restaurants by 30 per cent, and many of the smaller establishments will face collapse," Radin warned, as quoted by Dnevnik daily. "Bulgaria should combat smoking but should apply an integrated, comprehensive and reasonable approach instead of going to extremes," he said.
Substantially more adamant on the matter were individual hoteliers and restaurateurs interviewed by the Bulgarian daily Standart, who said they feared going bankrupt if a smoking ban was imposed.
"Let's give way to incentives rather than fines in the war against cigarettes," the BHRA proposed. Most BHRA officials are especially concerned that businesses will register devastating financial losses.
"Turnovers will slide down by 30-40 per cent; smaller restaurants would be better off closing down straight away," they said. "It would be far better if employers start paying bonuses to non-smoking workers," Ragin was quoted as saying by Standart.
BHRA has suggested that employers give employees incentives to quit smoking by offering bigger salaries and longer paid leave to non-smokers. Among the proposals are the imposition of special corners for smokers in restaurants or an alleviation of taxation on smoke-free restaurants.
On November 16 2004, a Public Health white paper proposed a smoking ban in almost all public places in England. Smoking restrictions would be phased in, with a ban on smoking in NHS and government buildings by 2006, in enclosed public places by 2007, and pubs, bars and restaurants (except pubs not serving food) by the end of 2008.
In spite of bitter opposition by establishments and members of parliament, the government announced that it would continue with its plans. All workplaces, including restaurants and pubs selling food, were ordered to have a ban in place by summer 2007.
Ultimately, the smoking ban in England was enforced, making it illegal to smoke in all enclosed public places and enclosed work places in England, from July 1 2007. Similar bans had already been introduced by the rest of the United Kingdom — Scotland on March 26 2006, Wales on April 2 2007 and Northern Ireland on April 30 2007.
In different reports by July 2008 it was revealed that pubs and restaurants had not registered a financial loss exceeding 10 per cent.
In fact, some pubs and bars had registered an increase of business because many non-smokers, previously reluctant to frequent poorly ventilated, smoky establishments, were visiting more often following the ban.
Tourist organisations, hotels and other industry-related enterprises are up in arms, arguing that in the midst of a crippling economic crisis, a complete ban would make matters worse. They say that a sensitive, phased approach should be implemented instead. "A gradual process rather than a complete ban is a lot more sensitive," said Blagoi Ragin, president of the Bulgarian Hotel and Restaurant Association (BHRA), as quoted by Bulgarian news agency BTA on April 16.
"Prohibition would squeeze the turnover of bars and restaurants by 30 per cent, and many of the smaller establishments will face collapse," Radin warned, as quoted by Dnevnik daily. "Bulgaria should combat smoking but should apply an integrated, comprehensive and reasonable approach instead of going to extremes," he said.
Substantially more adamant on the matter were individual hoteliers and restaurateurs interviewed by the Bulgarian daily Standart, who said they feared going bankrupt if a smoking ban was imposed.
"Let's give way to incentives rather than fines in the war against cigarettes," the BHRA proposed. Most BHRA officials are especially concerned that businesses will register devastating financial losses.
"Turnovers will slide down by 30-40 per cent; smaller restaurants would be better off closing down straight away," they said. "It would be far better if employers start paying bonuses to non-smoking workers," Ragin was quoted as saying by Standart.
BHRA has suggested that employers give employees incentives to quit smoking by offering bigger salaries and longer paid leave to non-smokers. Among the proposals are the imposition of special corners for smokers in restaurants or an alleviation of taxation on smoke-free restaurants.
On November 16 2004, a Public Health white paper proposed a smoking ban in almost all public places in England. Smoking restrictions would be phased in, with a ban on smoking in NHS and government buildings by 2006, in enclosed public places by 2007, and pubs, bars and restaurants (except pubs not serving food) by the end of 2008.
In spite of bitter opposition by establishments and members of parliament, the government announced that it would continue with its plans. All workplaces, including restaurants and pubs selling food, were ordered to have a ban in place by summer 2007.
Ultimately, the smoking ban in England was enforced, making it illegal to smoke in all enclosed public places and enclosed work places in England, from July 1 2007. Similar bans had already been introduced by the rest of the United Kingdom — Scotland on March 26 2006, Wales on April 2 2007 and Northern Ireland on April 30 2007.
In different reports by July 2008 it was revealed that pubs and restaurants had not registered a financial loss exceeding 10 per cent.
In fact, some pubs and bars had registered an increase of business because many non-smokers, previously reluctant to frequent poorly ventilated, smoky establishments, were visiting more often following the ban.