Smoking is completely prohibited in all enclosed public spaces, without exceptions, as well as drastic restrictions on the import, sale and display of cigarettes and electronic devices. A new law on smoking is in preparation.
The smoking ban will apply to all catering establishments, including restaurants, bars, taverns and wineries. Furthermore, smoking will also be banned on the terraces of cafes and restaurants unless they are fully open on at least three sides, meaning that a large part of the semi-open terraces will no longer be able to be used for this purpose.
Those who do not smoke say that the law is excellent and that it should be passed urgently, according to them they suffer more than smokers when they are in the same space.
"Excellent law, those who don't smoke suffer," said one citizen.
"It would be wiser, but who will enforce it? If they drink, let them drink on the terrace, here, there, not inside. Those who don't smoke suffer more than those who drink," said a citizen.
The law also provides for the expansion of the ban to several other places and situations, including smoking in a vehicle if a child is inside, as well as in bus and train stations, markets and other public spaces.
Smokers, on the other hand, think that the law should be passed, but also that a space should be provided for them where they can smoke.
"It's okay, even though I'm a smoker, it's okay, it should be like this so that we don't poison others around us, I agree with having such a law. But there should still be space for smokers, however, smoking is not prohibited, it is only prohibited in those spaces, which means that there should be spaces for smokers as well," emphasized a citizen.
The new provisions do not distinguish between classic tobacco products and modern alternatives. The same bans will also apply to all types of electronic cigarettes and “vaping” devices, while a complete ban on flavored cigarettes and nicotine products is also foreseen. An additional blow to the tobacco industry and retailers is the ban on advertising and visual display of cigarettes. Under the new rules, both regular and electronic cigarettes will not be allowed to be prominently displayed on supermarket shelves and points of sale.
Statistics show that every year around 4.000 people in Macedonia lose their lives as a result of smoking-related diseases./ Alsat.mk
