Bill created to tighten smoking laws
The government has drawn up a bill which will further limit where smoking is allowed.
In 2007, smoking was banned indoors in bars and cafes, with the new bill taking aim at designated smoking areas in buildings. Lawmakers are aiming for the ban to come into effect in 2017, Eesti Päevaleht reported. Prisons will also become smoke free that year.
Special rooms for smoking may still be set up in buildings, but according to the daily, these rooms will be the next to go.
“Ventilation systems, designated smoking rooms and partial limits do not offer people enough protection from second hand smoke in the environment,” the bill said.
The Health Board has so far identified 40 such areas, including in care homes and casinos.
Diana Ingerainen, head of a union of GPs, said limiting places where people can smoke has shown to be effective in cutting smoker numbers.
The number of people, between the age of 16-64, who smoke at least one cigarette every day has plummeted from slightly over 50 percent to 19.5 percent in 2014.
Editor: J.M. Laats