Smoking ban reaches Ukraine

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On today’s morning news I saw that a new smoking ban about to be apply.

_http://www.interfax.com.ua/eng/press-conference/97504/

Kyiv, March 13 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The directors of some of Kyiv's restaurants and representatives of the Kyiv Association of Waiters have signed an address to Ukrainian lawmakers with a call to adopt a law on the introduction of a ban on smoking in dining facilities.

At a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine on Monday, Chairman of Kyiv Associations of Waiters Oleh Onykiyenko said that in most European countries the ban was introduced a long time ago. He said that in Ukraine waiters and barmen – mainly young people – have to work in places filled with smoke for 10-12 hours.

"Every day we have to breathe tobacco smoke, which contains a lot of carcinogens and harmful agents," Onykiyenko said.

He said that the association plans to collect signatures for the address on the introduction a smoking ban in dining facilities and submit it to the Ukrainian parliament. In addition, waiters and barmen plan to hold a rally to support the bill.

Director of the Varenye Restaurant Andriy Pinchuk said that their restaurant refused to open premises for smoking people from the first day of its operation. In eight months of the restaurant operation, some 10,000 people visited it and only 50 people decided not to go to the restaurant due to the fact that smoking is banned in it.

Pinchuk said smoking ban only ensures the increase in the number of visitors.

A manager of the Cult Ra restaurant, Oleksandr Vavryk said that apart from a smoking ban at cafes, bars and restaurants, the popularization of a healthy lifestyle should be increased.

Mon Ami restaurant head Ihor Sukhov said Ukrainian society has matured enough for the introduction of a smoking ban, as recently many people have quit smoking.

The Board Chairman of the Zhyttia center, Andriy Skypalsky, said that draft law No. 9474 introducing a ban on smoking at dining, cultural and sports facilities was registered in the Ukrainian parliament on November 17, 2011. The authors of the bill were representatives of various political forces.

Lawmakers are to consider the bill at first reading on March 13, 2012.

On TV today, there was a live report. Thay said that they want to build some cubicles for smokers, so the smoke stays in a cubicles.
Also on TV they show that there was some anti-smoking demonstration with cofe-free and no smoke. It was the first time I saw something like this in Ukraine.
Not so long ago smoking was banned in outdoor public areas. one of my friends payed a fine twice for smoking on the bus stop. Now it's going further.