Smoking law approved by parliament

2010-03-08

The Polish parliament has approved a tobacco ban. In accordance with the new regulations, the owners of small bars and pubs can decide whether or not to set up smoke free zones, whereas restaurants and bars in excess of 100 m² will have to set up separated smoking areas. The latter were proposed by the Confederation of Polish Employers (KPP), which claimed that enforcing a total ban on smoking at dining and drinking establishments could cause a 0.5 p.p. increase in the unemployment rate, in addition to the closure of a number of local bars and losses for the budget. However, some MPs argue that the establishment of such non-smoking zones is pointless and does not offer protection against passive smoking.
Smoke free zones can also be set up in primary schools, junior high schools and hospitals, whereas smoking will be totally banned on trains and at and bus stations and bus stops.