Czech gov't approves bill on banning smoking in restaurants completely

The Czech government approved on Wednesday a bill on completely banning smoking in restaurants, at concerts and dance parties.

The bill will take effect as of January 2016 if it passed by parliament, said Czech Health Minister Svatopluk Nemecek.

The bill also prohibits the sale of cigarettes and alcoholic drinks in vending machines and introduces other measures to reduce the consumption of tobacco and alcohol.

The sales of cigarettes and alcohol via Internet are also being restricted. The restrictive measures concern also electronic cigarettes and herbal products for smoking. Igniting of them would be prohibited even in movie theaters, sports arenas, schools, transport, covered platforms and shelters at stops.

According to the new bill, pubs and bars will be bound to offer at least one non-alcoholic beverage cheaper than beer on drinks menus. Penalties for violating the bill would also be toughened. For example, if drunk children are found in a pub, the pub would have to immediately close for two days.

The Czech Republic is among the European countries more permissive to smoking, and smoking is the sixth cause of death in this country.

Since 2006, smoking has been banned from schools, cinemas and theatres, sports halls, civil service offices and public transport, and restaurants have been obliged to be marked as smoking, non-smoking or having separated areas for smokers.

Czech President Milos Zeman, who is a heavy smoker for most of his life, said on Wednesday that he would not veto the bill though he considers divided areas for smokers and non-smokers in restaurants a better solution.

A poll conducted by Ipsos agency showed that a majority of Czech people support the smoking ban. Endit