Smoking Bans in EU and USA

• 03.11.2016, 12:14
•  World,  No-politics

(c) AP

The European Union constantly states that more than 500,000 Europeans die of tobacco-related diseases each year. Passive smoking in turn causes lung cancer, heart disease, bronchitis, pneumonia and asthma. Thus the EU Commission wants all member countries to follow the American-style bans already imposed by Ireland and the Netherlands. While the commission has no powers to enforce such a law, its influence is strong. Some 100 U. S. cities have restaurant and bar bans - the model for the EU plan. The call for a ban is the latest attack in the commission's escalating war on smoking.

According to the American Non-Smokers Rights Association, almost 82% of the US population are covered by a 100% smoke free provision in non-hospitality workplaces. Though laws here are often imposed at a local government level rather than state. Congress has not attempted to enact any nationwide federal smoking ban. As a result, the existence and aggressiveness of smoking bans varies widely throughout the United States, ranging from total bans (even outdoors), to no regulation of smoking at all. Jurisdictions in the greater South tend to have the least restrictive smoking bans or no statewide bans at all. Of the 60 most populated cities in the United States, all but 17 ban smoking in all bars and restaurants.

California and New York have some of the strictest measures in the world including outdoor bans in many parks and within metres of buildings. While in states like Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi and Georgia it's still relatively easy to find a bar or restaurant where you can light up.

Ireland and Netherlands became the first countries in Europe to introduce a total smoking ban, making smoking in enclosed workplaces illegal, punishable by a fine of up to 3,000 euros. The ban has led to copycat laws across the globe, BBC reports.

Scotland became the first country in the UK to follow in 2006. The UK in general has some of the toughest smoking laws and penalties in the world. Since July 1, 2007 smoke-free workplace laws have been in effect across the whole of the UK. These were introduced in each constituent administration of the United Kingdom separately, as decided by the partially devolved governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and the UK Parliament acting for England.

As for Germany, in the recent weeks it has stiffened rules on tobacco advertising and unveiled plans to put horrific pictures of diseased lungs on cigarette packets. Here smoking has been banned in the tents of Oktoberfest but there are plenty of other things to keep people entertained. Austria's government has announced plans to introduce a total smoking ban in cafes and restaurants by 2018. But currently smoking rooms in Austria are allowed in most places, provided that smoke is not penetrating the non-smoking area. You can also smoke in your own office if you have no contact with clients.

In France smoking is banned in all public places. An exception exists for special smoking rooms fulfilling strict conditions, as below. However, a special exemption was made for cafés and restaurants, clubs, casinos, bars, etc. until January 1, 2008, although the French government allowed a day of reflection on New Year's Day. Opinion polls suggest 70% of people support the ban. However, a 2009 story by Time Magazine suggested that some smokers were blatantly ignoring the smoking ban due to lax enforcement.

Under the new regulations, smoking rooms are allowed, but are subjected to very strict conditions: they may occupy at most 20% of the total floor space of the establishment and their size may not be more than 35 m²; they need to be equipped with separate ventilation that replaces the full volume of air ten times per hour; the air pressure of the smoking room must constantly be lower than the pressure in the contiguous rooms; they must have doors that close automatically; no service can be provided in the smoking rooms; and cleaning and maintenance personnel may enter the room only one hour after it was last used for smoking.

According to Daily Mail, there is particular alarm in Spain, Greece and Italy, where up to 40 per cent of teenagers smoke. Smoking in this countries is banned in playgrounds and outdoor areas of healthcare and educational facilities. Future plans include bans for sporting stadiums, festivals, and bull fights (for Spain).

As for Armenia, a law entered into effect in March 2005 prohibiting smoking in hospitals, cultural and educational institutions and on public transportation. On March 1, 2006 new rules came into effect requiring all public and private institutions, including bars and restaurants, to allow smoking only in special separate areas.