Bell tolls for the era of the overflowing ashtray in Macedonia, as politicians get tough on puffing in public.
Jump to full article: Southeast Europe Online (SEEOL), 2006-01-13
Author: Nevena Angelovska in Skopje (13-Jan-06
Intro: Since the start of 2006, Skopje has finally started enforcing an anti-smoking law which had previously been largely ignored since being passed more than ten years ago.
The law bans smoking in all public places outside designated areas, outlaws advertisements for cigarettes and curbs the sale of cigarettes to anyone under the age of 18 and in outlets near schools and hospitals.
Businesses found to be in violation of this legislation can face fines of 100,000 to 250,000 denars, between about 1,940 and 4,850 United States dollars. Individuals who break the law can be charged between 5,000 and 15,000 denars, around 100 to 300 dollars.
The law, passed in 1995, remained a dead letter owing to the power of the tobacco lobby in this tobacco-growing country.
Macedonia has also signed an international convention for the control of tobacco, though the parliament has yet to ratify it. . . .
Government health inspectors are less happy, saying the law is incomplete and unclear.
They say it has failed to specify the size and appearance of special smoking areas and how smoking and non-smoking areas in caf?s should be separated.
The proprietors of such businesses are equally mystified. . . .
the change has already come to other areas.
In hospitals there are no more ashtrays . . .
The same change is apparent in government offices.
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