- Title: POLAND: Government introduces strict anti-smoking regulations
- Date: 16th November 2010
- Summary: WARSAW, POLAND (NOVEMBER 15, 2010) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF WARSAW STREET MAN SMOKING IN CROWD NO SMOKING SIGN INTERIOR OF COFFEE SHOP WOMAN SITTING AT TABLE POLISH PRESS AGENCY (SOUNDBITE) (English) DIRECTOR OF POLISH WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION OFFICE, PAULINA MISKIEWICZ, SAYING: "Starting today there is going to be a ban on smoking in public places including bars and restaurants in the whole country." (SOUNDBITE) (English) DIRECTOR OF POLISH WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION OFFICE, PAULINA MISKIEWICZ, SAYING: "I mean there are going to be some penalties, some fees imposed on them by the special authorities. Still this regulation is under development but it will soon come into force. Right now the police has a right to impose such penalties." PEOPLE WALKING PAST NON SMOKING RESTAURANT MAN SMOKING SIGN ON DOOR READING 'NON SMOKING PREMISES' (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) RESIDENT, KONRAD PIWOWARCZYK, SAYING: "I think this will work, I think it will work. I think Polish people will smoke less, the same as the English. This prohibition will have a big effect and the number of smokers will decrease, I hope. Unfortunately I will not quit." CUSTOMER IN COFFEE SHOP WAITRESS AT COFFEE MACHINE (SOUNDBITE) (English) COFFEE SHOP CUSTOMERS, TOMEK WIGODA AND LESZEK STANEK, SAYING: "I think a lot of people have been waiting for this idea and this decision about not smoking and it's great." MAN WORKING AT LAPTOP (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) COFFEE SHOP MANAGER, JACEK SZEWCZYK SAYING: "For non-smokers it's very good, you know. But for the restaurant it's hard to judge now. The new law was introduced last night. It is hard to say by watching our customers reactions. There is a special smoking area outside for the smokers but some of them get upset when instructed to leave the restaurant." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE ON STREET MAN SMOKING
- Embargoed: 1st December 2010 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Poland
- Country: Poland
- Topics: Health,Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA1EKBQUMJ4EU3E2I0FH1GTAO47
- Story Text: Poland joined a growing list of nations to ban smoking in bars, restaurants and other public places, on Monday (November 15) in a move welcomed by health experts and non-smokers.
"Starting today there is going to be a ban on smoking in public places including bars and restaurants in the whole country," Dr. Paulina Miskiewicz, head of the World Health Organisation's office in Poland told Reuters TV.
Under the law, establishments bigger than 100 square meters can set aside a designated room for smokers but must meet certain air conditioning standards.
Miskiewicz said that fines would be imposed on those breaking the rules.
"Still this regulation is under development but it will soon come into force," she said, adding "Right now the police has a right to impose such penalties."
More than half of Poles back the new ban while 15 percent are strongly opposed, according to a survey published in the Polish language edition of the Newsweek magazine.
The number of Polish smokers is now less than 30 percent of the adult population, the survey said.
One customer of a popular Warsaw café, who had been sent outside to smoke, understood the law but said he would stay committed to his habit.
"I think this will work, I think it will work. I think Polish people will smoke less, the same as the English. This prohibition will have a big effect and the number of smokers will decrease, I hope. Unfortunately I will not quit," said Konrad Piwiwarcayk.
Reaction to the ban from non-smokers was also positive.
"I think a lot of people have been waiting for this idea and this decision, about not smoking and it's great," cafe customers Tomek Wigoda and Leszek Stanek said.
Coffee shop manager Jacek Szewczyk said it was too early to judge what it would mean for his business.
"It is hard to say by watching our customers reactions. There is a special smoking area outside for the smokers but some of them get upset when instructed to leave the restaurant," he said. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
