ArmInfo.From March 15, 2022, a ban on the use of all types of tobacco products in open and closed restaurants, bars, other catering establishments, hotels, shopping centers, and other closed working areas comes into force.
At the end of 2017, the Ministry of Health of Armenia presented a draft law "On reducing and preventing the negative impact of the use of tobacco products." The project proposed to ban the use of tobacco products, their analogues and tobacco substitutes (including hookah) in enclosed spaces, public institutions (restaurants, cafes, hookahs), on the territories of medical and educational institutions, including universities, theater and concert complexes , museums, libraries, cinemas, entertainment centers, gyms and stadiums. The law caused mixed reviews in society, especially among smokers.
However, as of January 1, 2022, a number of important provisions of the Law on the Reduction and Prevention of Harm to Health from the Use of Tobacco Products and their Substitutes came into force.
According to these provisions, public demonstration, advertising of cigarettes in stores (by billboards or in some other way), in public catering outlets, as well their demonstration in open windows is prohibited. Also, in places intended for trade, it is prohibited to place containers of all the above-mentioned goods: empty boxes, blocks, color posters with a trademark, trademarks or symbols. Cigarette showcases must be closed with a curtain, and the seller can only take out cigarettes from there at the request of the client.
Since February 10, 2022, Armenia has introduced restrictions on the sale, circulation and consumption of tobacco substitutes. Thus, advertising and open placement of cigarette substitutes (electronic cigarettes, liquid-based nicotine products (vapes), etc.) was banned.