Pro-government lawmaker calls for revision of anti-smoking law
18.02.2020,
17:10
The anti-smoking law, passed by the Armenian parliament last week to gradually ban smoking in cafes, restaurants and other indoor public places, poses risks to the economy and needs to be revised, Babken Tunyan, the chairman of a parliament committee on economic affairs from the ruling My Step faction, said in a Facebook post.
YEREVAN, February 18. /ARKA/. The anti-smoking law, passed by the Armenian parliament last week to gradually ban smoking in cafes, restaurants and other indoor public places, poses risks to the economy and needs to be revised, Babken Tunyan, the chairman of a parliament committee on economic affairs from the ruling My Step faction, said in a Facebook post.
The anti-smoking bill was backed in the second and final reading by 76 votes to 16 with 7 abstentions on February 13. It also bans smoking while driving cars or buses and imposes a ban on tobacco advertising. The fine for indoor smoking ranges from 50,000 drams ($105) to 200,000 drams.
Tunyan said although he supported the bill drafted by the Ministry of Health, he believes that the bill in its current form contains certain risks for the country's economy and needs certain adjustments. He says one of the arguments why he backed the bill is that some of its controversial provisions will be coming into force in 2021 and some others in 2022 and 2024.
"This means we have enough time to correct the mistakes," Tunyan said. He says he is beginning to develop a package of amendments to the anti-tobacco law before the controversial provisions enter into force and suggests that citizens send their proposals to him by February 29.
According to Tunyan, tobacco companies in 2019 paid more than 120 billion drams in various taxes. According to Ministry of Health estimates, 52 percent of Armenian men are regular smokers. Smoking is blamed for a high incidence of deaths caused by lung cancer.
Under the law, the ban on smoking in cafes, restaurants and other public catering facilities will enter into force on March 15, 2022. The ban on smoking in half-closed premises of public catering facilities will come into force on May 1, 2024. The ban on smoking in hotels resorts, sanatoriums comes into force on May 1, 2020.
From the moment the law enters into force, smoking will be prohibited in medical and educational institutions, youth sports organizations, smoking will be forbidden near playgrounds, cultural facilities, in state and local government buildings and in places where smoking is prohibited because of fire safety rules .-- 0--
The anti-smoking bill was backed in the second and final reading by 76 votes to 16 with 7 abstentions on February 13. It also bans smoking while driving cars or buses and imposes a ban on tobacco advertising. The fine for indoor smoking ranges from 50,000 drams ($105) to 200,000 drams.
Tunyan said although he supported the bill drafted by the Ministry of Health, he believes that the bill in its current form contains certain risks for the country's economy and needs certain adjustments. He says one of the arguments why he backed the bill is that some of its controversial provisions will be coming into force in 2021 and some others in 2022 and 2024.
"This means we have enough time to correct the mistakes," Tunyan said. He says he is beginning to develop a package of amendments to the anti-tobacco law before the controversial provisions enter into force and suggests that citizens send their proposals to him by February 29.
According to Tunyan, tobacco companies in 2019 paid more than 120 billion drams in various taxes. According to Ministry of Health estimates, 52 percent of Armenian men are regular smokers. Smoking is blamed for a high incidence of deaths caused by lung cancer.
Under the law, the ban on smoking in cafes, restaurants and other public catering facilities will enter into force on March 15, 2022. The ban on smoking in half-closed premises of public catering facilities will come into force on May 1, 2024. The ban on smoking in hotels resorts, sanatoriums comes into force on May 1, 2020.
From the moment the law enters into force, smoking will be prohibited in medical and educational institutions, youth sports organizations, smoking will be forbidden near playgrounds, cultural facilities, in state and local government buildings and in places where smoking is prohibited because of fire safety rules .-- 0--
