Soon, in North Macedonia, anti-smoking law can enter into force, which any media mention to as the "most restrictive" in the Balkans.
The fresh draft law on protection against tobacco and nicotine products, published on Sunday by the Ministry of wellness of North Macedonia, is 1 of the most crucial changes in tobacco control government in the country for more than 10 years.
The prohibition presently in force concerns all closed public spaces. any open spaces will besides become non-smoking places now. The import and sale of tobacco and nicotine products will be drastically reduced and their advertising completely banned. cigaret producers will not be able to sponsor events and cigarettes on the marketplace will be completely removed from the sight of buyers.
The ban will besides apply to car drivers smoking in the presence of children, urban and global bus and railway stations, markets and many another public places. Smoking outside schools and hospitals will besides be prohibited. The same prohibition will apply to electronic cigarettes and liming equipment, and the draft law prohibits the sale and usage of aromatised tobacco products.
The penalties for illegal smoking will berange from 150 to 300 euro for individuals. In a country with an average monthly wage of around EUR 600, these are advanced amounts.
Data from the National Institute of Public wellness show that over 45% of the adult population are smokers. This is much more than the EU average, where around 24% of adults are smokers according to the Eurobarometer and wellness data in the EU.
In addition, data indicate that half of North Macedonian smokers smoke more than 1 pack of cigarettes a day. The Institute estimates that about 4000 people die each year from tobacco-related diseases.
Source:Balkan Insight
BIS improvement — survey Bulletin
