Up in smoke

Amendments to a bill on health protection were recently presented to parliament. If passed, the new bill would ban smoking in public places.

This would include hospitals, health centers, schools, all work places (including bars, restaurants and clubs), all sports facilities, public transport and all related buildings. Furthermore, smoking would be banned in private cars while driving or with a child below 13 years of age in the vehicle. Those breaking the law would be fined up to zł.100. Owners or managers of locations where the smoking ban is ignored could face penalties up to zł.20,000. 

However, smokers will still be able to light up in smoking rooms in hotels and hostels. In bars or discos, smoking would only be allowed in separate rooms that meet strict criteria. PKP stole a march on the legislation and announced it was banning smoking on its Intercity and Eurocity train services.

According to a survey conducted by OBOP, 77 percent of Poles support banning smoking in all public places. "This is one of the highest figures in Europe," says Professor Jacek Jassem from the Medical Academy in Gdańsk, one of the initiators of the proposed amendment. He points out that public support for the ban will grow after it is introduced, even among smokers.

In Ireland 93 percent (including 76 percent of smokers) think its smoking ban was a good idea, in Italy 90 percent think so. Apart from these two countries, smoking in public places is banned in Norway, Sweden, Malta and Scotland. In 2007 the ban is expected to be introduced in England, Northern Ireland and France.

Tadeusz Cymański from the Sejm's Health Committee said that initial reactions in parliament were positive. The authors hope the amended law could come into force at the beginning of 2007.