To smoke or not to smoke? Everyone makes decisions for themselves. However, you should be aware that some places are prohibited from smoking under current laws.
The prevalence of this habit has led teens to start smoking already at the age of 11-12. What could this lead to? Even pregnant and breastfeeding mothers don't deny they're addicted. Parents are smoking in their apartments, smoking on balconies, not even thinking that they are shortening not only their own lives, but the lives of their children.
The main idea of the law is to use it to protect the health of the country's citizens and prevent the negative consequences of inhaling cigarette smoke. According to statistical studies, the extremely high mortality rate is due to this addiction. However, not only smokers suffer from smoking, but also those around them.
List of places where smoking is prohibited by law
- Educational institutions, and institutions related to the promotion of healthy lifestyles and exercise.
- cultural institutions.
- Hospitals, polyclinics, nursing homes and other nursing home resort locations.
- long distance train.
- A vessel that serves the transport of passengers.
- Urban and intercity public transport.
- Hotel buildings and other premises provided for lodging purposes.
- In cafes and restaurants, you can only smoke on balconies or playgrounds in summer.
- Crowded places: markets, trading venues, places used to house social services.
- Buildings and territories of government agencies.
- Workplace and area.
- Elevator in apartment building.
- Territory of gas stations and planes.
- Children's playground and public beach.
No smoking areas are at the discretion of the owner of the land or premises.
If desired, owners can equip themselves with a place dedicated to smoking. It could be outdoors or it could be indoors. In the second case, it is necessary to pay attention to the installation of a ventilation system. The law imposes special requirements for these places: In rooms where smoking is prohibited, a special sign must be installed that wraps a crossed-out cigarette in a circle.
Smoking bans in different countries
Tougher measures against smoking have been in place for a long time in most countries. In the first stage, countries implemented measures to ban smoking in crowded places. In almost every country, huge fines are imposed on offenders who do not abide by the law.
In the US, violators will have to pay huge fines if they smoke a cigarette in the wrong place. In the UK, the figure is even higher. In Greece, too, they are actively fighting the addiction, as smoking in the wrong places is punishable by fines. In Japan, the fight against smoking is so large that there are even certain streets that completely ban smoking.
The list of places where smoking is banned is almost the same in all countries. However, having been abroad, it is best to familiarize yourself with its laws. Smoking areas are usually marked with certain signs all over the place. Some countries have even taken steps to restrict the sale of cigarettes. The least smoking country is the Vatican. Smoking has been completely banned there since 2002.
In most countries, the focus is not only on identifying no-smoking areas, but also on promoting healthy lifestyles. The demarcation of no-go zones is a shame for many smokers who now have to hide to go where they might smoke. A person begins to feel a little abandoned, and over time, seeks less and less places where they can smoke. Under favorable circumstances, this all leads to a person quitting smoking.
Statistical indicators have improved significantly since the law was passed. Not only did the sales levels of tobacco products decline, but positive changes in birth rates began to be observed, with a reduction in the number of pathologies in newborns. Even better, the statistics on mortality from lung and throat cancers have changed. This bad habit is a powerful weapon of mass destruction, claiming more lives each year than any war on Earth has ever fought.
The state is currently not only trying to restrict smoking areas and make cigarettes a luxury item (with progressively increasing costs), but is also actively cracking down on media promotion of cigarettes. It's not uncommon to see people smoking on TV screens and movies.