Parliament Rejects Total Ban on Smoking in Bars and Restaurants

Bratislava, February 9 (TASR) - People will still be allowed to smoke in Slovak restaurants, cafes and bars under certain conditions, as Parliament on Tuesday rejected an amendment to the Non-smokers Protection Act submitted by Tatiana Rosova from SDKU-DS.

According to Rosova's proposal, smoking should be banned from all restaurants and pubs where food or drinks are served. Currently, only restaurants serving food are obliged to divide their premises with a wall - separating smokers and non-smokers - or ban smoking completely. Bars serving only drinks can remain smoking-friendly. "Most people support a total ban on smoking in pubs and restaurants, as well as a ban on smoking in shopping centres," said Rosova.

The SDKU MP also defended her proposal by claiming that the current norm is complicating the situation by its ambiguousness, allowing businesses to get around the law by redefining what food is, for example. At the same time, she pointed out that businesses that have banned smoking have been put at a disadvantage. "Reality has shown that despite the fact that non-smokers are in the majority, social conventions and a high level of tolerance of smokers has led to people preferring smoking-allowed establishments," she stated.

According to Rosova, another problem is that some bars and coffee-houses where smoking is allowed are located inside shopping centres, where non-smokers and children are exposed to the smoke.

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