80% of catering establishments of Ukraine comply with the law on the prohibition of smoking: monitoring data
In 2022, 80% of restaurants, cafes and bars complied with the requirements of the anti-tobacco legislation, namely they did not allow smoking of cigarettes and hookahs. This is evidenced by the data of the monitoring conducted by the volunteers of the “Youth free from smoking” organization. Volunteers checked 320 institutions in 5 cities of Ukraine, namely, in Kyiv, Dnipro, Lviv, Odesa and Ternopil. Representatives of the organization visited establishments in the evening, paid attention to indirect evidence of violation of the law, namely: the presence of ashtrays, tobacco smoke, verbal permission of employees to smoke in the premises, and the presence of information notices about the prohibition of smoking. Volunteers checked 320 establishments in 5 cities of Ukraine. In establishments that violate the law, hookah smoking (88%) and the use of heating cigarettes and their devices (44%) were most often recorded. 27% of violations were related to smoking, electronic cigarettes, and 9% to classic tobacco products. 80% of restaurants, cafes and bars complied with the requirements of the anti-tobacco legislation “For every recorded case of violation during monitoring, we sent an appeal to the State Production and Consumer Service. We hope for a proactive reaction that will stop violations and harm to employees and visitors,” said the coordinator of the all-Ukrainian campaign “Free Youth” from smoking” Oleg Slabospytskyi. In establishments that violate the law, hookah smoking was most often recorded. At the end of 2021, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted changes to the legislation that prohibit smoking in public places. According to the current legislation, the liability of restaurant establishments for indoor smoking ranges from UAH 1,000 to 10,000 for each violation. From July 11, 2023, such a fine will amount to UAH 3,000 for the first violation during the year and UAH 15,000 for each subsequent violation. In September 2022, parliamentarians did not support easing the ban on smoking in public places. Read also: Ukraine has launched a platform for complaints about smoking in public places
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