Czech government approves ban on smoking in restaurants and bars

Philip Morris CR as

03/06/2015 14:51

PRAGUE, June 3 (Reuters) - The Czech government approved a 
draft bill to ban smoking in restaurants and bars and move the 
country into line with restrictions in place in much of the 
European Union. 
    The Czech Republic is the last EU member to allow 
unrestricted smoking in restaurants. Past governments have tried 
to enact such restrictions but run into opposition. 
    The draft bill must still pass parliament before it can be 
signed into law by President Milos Zeman, himself a regular 
smoker. 
    A quarter of Czechs smoke, putting it just below the EU 
average of 26 percent, according to Eurobarometer.  
    "With this law, the Czech Republic will embark on a path 
where the majority of advanced western European countries have 
gone a long time ago," Health Minister Svatopluk Nemecek said 
after the centre-left cabinet approved the measure. 
    Seventeen of the 28 EU states have a total ban on smoking in 
indoor public places, public transport and workplaces, according 
to the European Commission. Others have restrictions in various 
areas. 
    The proposed Czech legislation would follow that and 
introduce a ban on smoking, including e-cigarettes, at concerts 
and other indoor entertainment and sports facilities. 
    The bill also includes a provision requiring restaurants and 
bars to offer at least one non-alcoholic drink cheaper on the 
menu than the cheapest alcoholic drink. 
    The Czech Republic is one of the world's biggest per capita 
beer drinkers and its pub culture and brews are a strong tourist 
draw.  
    Philip Morris CR  TABK.PR , a unit of Philip Morris 
International  PMI.N , has a factory in the country.  
    Separately on Wednesday, the cabinet approved a plan that 
will raise the price of cigarette packs by 3-4 Czech crowns next 
year. A pack costs 70-115 crowns now, according to the bill. 
 
 (Reporting by Jason Hovet and Robert Muller; editing by Ralph 
Boulton) 
 ((jason.hovet@thomsonreuters.com; +420 224 190 476; Reuters 
Messaging: jason.hovet.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)) 
 
Keywords: CZECHS SMOKING/