Sat, Nov 07 2009

Team of scientists, including a Bulgarian professor, says that sunlight worsens the carcinogenic effect of tobacco.
Ban, taking effect on July 19 2009, extends an earlier ban issued in May 2008 on smoking in offices, public transport and other public places. Turkey’s health minister says that ban brought down smoking by seven per cent.
UK joins other EU states in anti-contraband and anti-counterfeit agreement with major tobacco producers.
Bulgaria joins other countries in banning smoking in workplaces and public buildings
I approach cab drivers with some trepidation, especially if I'm not crossing town from Lyulin to Mladost. Shorter distances can be greeted with an impenetrable look of boredom, followed by the silent wagging of a finger in decline. On several occasions, I've wondered whether I shouldn't apologise for assuming a local cabbie would be inconvenienced driving for a mere three leva. A couple of times, when the stakes were high, I simply barged in, pleaded and offered double what I knew it would cost, just so the driver would deign to deliver me more or less on time to an important appointment. And I still felt the driver thought he was doing me a favour.
Since November 20, the question of banning smoking in public areas and workplaces in Bulgaria depends solely on the speed of the country's bureaucratic and legislative machine. On that day the Government finally adopted a controversial decision to ban smoking in public places from June 1 2010. To make this ban effective, Parliament will now have to adopt amendments to the Public Health Act approved by the Cabinet and integrate them into Bulgaria's legislation. How long it will take Parliament to do that remains to be seen. But now, at least, the deadline for such a ban has been set.
A ban on smoking in public places and workplaces in Bulgaria will come into effect on June 1 2010 should Parliament approve the amendments to the Public Health Act put forward by the Cabinet on November 20 2008. November 20 is the world non-smoking day. According to a statement on the Government's website, the Cabinet decided to suggest the amendments to the act, which will ban smoking in all public and private workplaces.
A travelling exhibition titled Life Without Tobacco Smoke arrived in Sofia after visiting 10 other Bulgarian cities, Focus news agency reported on November 10 2008. Featuring 48 artists from 19 countries, the exhibition presents 55 caricatures and it is a collaborative effort of the Health Ministry and the House of Humour and Satire in Gabrovo. All works belong to the House's fund and come from Russia, Italy, Germany, France, Israel and Iran, among others.
The Greek parliament has approved a ban on smoking in public places, including all restaurants, bars and public transport, from January 1 2010, Greek media reported.
Smoking in public places, at the workplace and in public transportation could be banned in Bulgaria effective June 1 2010, if approved by Parliament. During a seminar on smoking held on September 29 at Rila Hotel in Sofia, the Health Ministry presented a revised draft of the Health Act that envisioned implementation of the ban. The Government is expected to discuss the bill by the end of October, Bulgarian news agency BTA reported.
Almost every second Bulgarian was a cigarette smoker, a survey conducted by the National Center for Public Health Protection in October 2007 showed. The results of the survey were published on Health Ministry's website on May 30 2008, one day before the world non smoking day.
Bulgaria will mark the world nonsmoking day May 31 with a large number of events throughout the country, the Health Ministry said on May 30. This year's motto of the event, started by the World Health Organisation 20 years ago, is "Young people - not addicted to smoking".
Kindergartens to be dealt with on a case-by-case basis and universities to decide for themselves whether to suspend classes.
Five illegal immigrants from Iran and Iraq caught by Bulgarian police in Sliven.
Leonid Lavchev sent an intermediary to collect 1000 leva from a dairy farm in Haskovo, investigators say
Former labour minister Emilia Maslarova follows the example of Socialist party leader and former prime minister, Sergei Stanishev, in requesting that her MP immunity is lifted
Health Minister: Influenza strain is not seasonal flu, it is swine flu. More than 100 000 Bulgarians are down with the H1N1 strain.
smokers are idiots... they are wasting their money to slowly kill themselves.. and they are very self centered to conaminate the air for the rest of the non-smokers.. Smokers say that they have a right to smoke,.. well we have a right to breathe clean air. You dont see us farting in your face.
99.8% of smokers DO NOT get lung cancer. My local pub has NO non smokers... rediculous. Not a godsend Tony - another nail in the coffin for democracy and the pub trade.
tony, i don't agree. i think a government imposed smoking ban is belittling and is the death of going-out. as a non-smoker, i've stopped enjoying, and ultimately visiting, places that impose total non-smoking rules. the smoking ban in public places is something that has been concocted by the politically correct left-wing thought-police. what's next? a ban on red meat? because "it is not good for you"?
i would like to decide for myself how i put an end to my live - by drinking and smoking if i so choose to, thank you very much!
besides, it has long been proven that those who live a long and happy live cost a lot more in health care then those who die of lung cancer at an early age.
uk smoking ban in public places is a godsend. much more pleasant to go out and socialise. there is nothing worse than being in a confined space with smokers when you do not smoke yourself. Seeing people ill with smoke related disease is not funny. Death from lung cancer is a poor way to die. why self-destruct? stop smoking and enjoy your food (better taste) and better, healthier lifestyle.