The War on Smoking: Second Act

Who is going to win in the Czech Republic, the well-known liberal country? There are new proposals of the law that should bring some fresh air to non-smokers in restaurants.

1st variation – total ban on smoking in restaurants
2nd variation – smoking only in a smoking room, build specially in enterprises
3rd variation – so called Spanish model – under 100m2 the owner decides, whether the hospitality enterprise is going to be smoking or not, over 100m2 he/she must build a wall between both sides
4th variation – The owner chooses, regardless of acreage.

The first wave of war on smoking brought the law, that can be interpreted like this: Smoking in the Czech Republic is prohibited in these places : theatres, cinemas, sport halls, railway stations, waiting rooms and bus or tram stops, in offices of state administration, in schools, hospitals and other medical institutions. People can smoke in restaurants provided the restaurant does not have any extra places for smokers.

The law has been valid for a year now. It is not only ambiguous, but it is also not extorted enough by the police. Policemen usually inflict only a symbolic fine. Another problem is, that owners of the restaurants usually understand the law in different ways.

Which of the new proposals is going to win? We will inform you in January.