Russia to ban smoking in bars, restaurants and clubs

Smoking in public places, including bars, restaurants and clubs, will be banned in Russia from July 1, 2014. The ban on the sale of cigarettes in kiosks will come into force this spring.

The State Duma Committee on Health approved 30 amendments to the anti-smoking law from the previously proposed 169. MPs did not approve the amendments expanding the list of public places where smoking should be prohibited. It goes about railway stations, platforms and personal transport. The proposal to ban smoke in the presence of children did not go through either.

However, deputies banned smoking in medical, sports, educational and cultural institutions, as well as at work places. The State Duma will give the second reading to anti-smoking bill on January 25.

The bill also provides for the introduction of price and tax measures, sets requirements for packaging and labeling of tobacco products and requires manufacturers should disclose the composition of tobacco products.

Noteworthy, 50-60 Russian men can be called heavy smokers. As for Russian women, one in ten women smokes cigarettes. Smoking kills about 400,000 Russian people every year.