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Sat, May 25 2013
Bulgaria's solution on smoking: ban the underaged from establishments
Photo: Nadezhda Chipeva
Bulgaria's ruling party GERB, which adopted earlier in the week amendments reverting an upcoming strict ban on smoking in public places, have decided to solve the public health conundrum by banning on May 21 all underaged from public establishments in which smoking is allowed, including nightclubs and discos.
The decision was not without a hiccup, as the previous day the MPs banned students and teenagers from entering smoking establishments during the day, but allowed them to visit nightclubs and bars after 10pm, provided they were accompanied by a guardian.
Following a public outcry caused by this oversight, MPs adopted on May 21 amendments that banned the underaged from visiting nightclubs and discos.
Other notable changes include the permission for employees to smoke during working hours, provided it is done in a place specially set up for that. In effect, the provision extends the existing status quo, which was due to change with the introduction of the restrictive ban on smoking in public places.
The new amendments go into effect on June 2.
The decision was not without a hiccup, as the previous day the MPs banned students and teenagers from entering smoking establishments during the day, but allowed them to visit nightclubs and bars after 10pm, provided they were accompanied by a guardian.
Following a public outcry caused by this oversight, MPs adopted on May 21 amendments that banned the underaged from visiting nightclubs and discos.
Other notable changes include the permission for employees to smoke during working hours, provided it is done in a place specially set up for that. In effect, the provision extends the existing status quo, which was due to change with the introduction of the restrictive ban on smoking in public places.
The new amendments go into effect on June 2.
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This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained off-topic content
i think they should ban all smoking all over the world!
Totsno taka KW, people who smoke indeed pay a lot of taxes. That means that if people stop smoking the government will find other ways to get what they will miss out of the cigarettes. One way or another they will get their money and even NON smokers will pay.
Of course the state wants us to smoke they own the tobacco company. Smoking in BG is like paying taxes.
And here it starts.... so Bulgaria wants to be equal with the rest of the world who lives under the incredible weight of laws, by-laws, rules and regulations. My gosh, why do they want to lose their freedom to think for themselves and to make their own decisions?
The reason BG is so fantastic now is because of its freedom. In the west, we lost this years ago and most people have no idea.
How about having breakfast at home with your kids? What i see in my neighborhood is parents sitting outside all day drinking and smoking cigarettes giving their kids all kinds of bad food or candy to keep them quiet so they can keep on doing what they are good at. it's almost like all these people have nothing better to do as to get louder and louder the longer they sit there drinking and smoking while throwing their cigarettes on the floor instead of the ashtrays. Maybe it's just me being silly for thinking anyone cares for another. People should [...]
Read the full comment stop complaining about their kids being in some smoke while they are killing them with all kinds of candy or other unhealthy food to keep them quiet.
No more restaurants with children, no more week-ends in hotels (yes, how will we take our breakfast...)??? Do they think it will be better for the economy?
stop moaning and do something..wearing badges is not enough.
This whole issue is 20yrs behind the rest of the world!
No smoking anywere were there are children,
Smoking zones should be sealed off from anyone dining who finds this a disgusting habbit!
"Why not take care of your own kid like normal parents do and save the money of daycare? This way jobs will come available to those who really need one to survive. "
Actually this way there is two people working intead of one. She and this who takes care of her kids. If she stops working probably only the one who takes her place will have a job.
T Jefferson once quoted "you can't have freedom and ignorance at the same time".
"I have to pay hundreds of leva for daycare"
Why not take care of your own kid like normal parents do and save the money of daycare? This way jobs will come available to those who really need one to survive.
"Thank you" EU, dictatorship is coming and freedom has been lost somewhere in Brussels' administration. B. Borisov runs for Brussels, not for Bulgarians.
Does this mean the only place I can take the wife and kids out for a meal is Macca's??
I am a mother of a small child here in Sofia, yet I think this is ridiculous and outrageous. Of course I wouldn't take my child to a smoke-choked dive bar, but we do visit many restaurants that have separate, well-ventilated non-smoking areas. My understanding is that now if I do so, I risk being slapped with a 200-400 leva fine since there is smoking somewhere in the establishment. This is absolutely ABSURD! It's not enough that I have to pay hundreds of leva for daycare because there's no room in the state-run kindergartens, but now I'll have to pay [...]
Read the full comment a babysitter if I want to go out with my husband in the evening. No more family birthday parties, celebrations, etc until she is 18+! This is COMPLETELY NUTS! Please let parents make their own decisions about what is and is not healthy for their children! I'm all for not letting unaccompanied teenagers into discos, but let me make my own decision about whether to take my toddler into the separate non-smoking area of the local pizzaria! This is the latest TOTAL PROSTOTIA!!!
and who is going to enforce?
no one. what is the fine?
"ban the underaged"
What age might that be? What will be next?