Thursday, August 3 2023 13:54

ArmInfo.Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan believes that the ban on smoking in catering  facilities and other public places, which has come into force since 2022, is not sufficiently strict. He stated on August 3 at a government meeting.

In response, Interior Minister Vahe Ghazaryan stated that from  January 1, 2022 to this day, the police have made 7,186  administrative protocols on the fact of smoking in prohibited places,  of which 790 are in public catering facilities, 6,044- in prohibited  places (at schools, hospitals, at bus stops, etc.), and  352  administrative protocols were drawn up against officials on the fact  of smoking. He assures that efforts will be intensified to get  positive results.

In turn, the prime minister noted that the goal of the authorities is  not to fine citizens, but to ensure that they do not smoke. <Many  people wonder if a ban on smoking in public places, including bus  stops, is justified?  The point is to make smoking as uncomfortable  as possible for the smoker," he said. 

Since January 1, 2022, the public display of cigarettes and their  substitutes in retail outlets and public catering establishments is  prohibited, and from March 15, a law banning smoking in public  places, including restaurants and open-air cafes, came into force in  Armenia. At the same time, the ban on smoking applies not only to  cigarettes, but also to their substitutes, cigars and hookah.  Violation of the ban established by the law implies a fine in the  amount of 150-200 thousand drams for officials, and in the amount of  50 thousand drams for individuals. The control over the  implementation of this provision of the law is carried out by the  Armenian police. From May 2024, the ban on smoking will also apply in  semi- closed areas, which will certainly affect visits to outdoor  cafes and restaurants.