The smoke of the fatherland is becoming expensive

State Duma deputies propose increasing the fine for violating smoking rules

Lawmakers are intensifying their offensive against Russian smokers, increasingly localizing the places reserved for them. Yesterday, State Duma deputies Tatyana Yakovleva, Vladimir Medinsky, Nikolai Gerasimenko and Ivan Savvidi introduced amendments to the law “On Restricting Tobacco Smoking”, as well as to the Code of the Russian Federation on Administrative Offences, for consideration by their colleagues. The document provides for a ban on smoking on airplanes, trains, other public transport, as well as in public catering establishments. However, what is more important is that for violators of this ban a serious fine of 10 thousand rubles is established. (10 minimum wage).

As you know, in 2004 the State Duma already adopted an anti-nicotine law, which prohibited the retail sale of tobacco products in healthcare, cultural, physical education and sports organizations, as well as closer than 100 meters from the boundaries of territories and in the premises of educational organizations. The 2004 law also banned smoking in workplaces, urban and suburban transport and on air transport for flights of less than three hours. However, it is now proposed to significantly tighten these standards. Now you can't smoke on an airplane, no matter how long the flight lasts. On trains, as well as on ships and water transport, in the waiting rooms of bus and railway stations and airports, smoking will be allowed only in specially designated places. In addition, deputies propose to create smoking-free zones in public catering establishments. The authors of the bill also propose to increase the number of government bodies where smoking is prohibited in undesignated places. It is expected that after consideration by the committees on economic policy and health protection (this will happen in April-May), the bill will be submitted for the first reading of the chamber.

As one of the authors of the document, Deputy Chairman of the Duma Committee on Health Protection Nikolai Gerasimenko, told the correspondent, the bill is being adopted “in the interests of passive smokers.” “The same rules apply all over the world - to separate smokers from non-smokers. In this sense, there is discrimination against non-smokers in our country,” said Mr. Gerasimenko. - We do not propose to ban smoking altogether, for example, at train stations or in restaurants; there can be designated rooms for smokers. But if the administration does not have the opportunity to equip such a hall, the restaurant automatically becomes a non-smoking restaurant.”

According to Mr. Gerasimenko, some of these rules are already in effect: for example, airlines already do not allow smoking on planes throughout the entire flight, and many restaurants, on their own initiative, separate smokers and non-smokers into different rooms. However, now these “rules of good manners” are proposed to be put into the form of a law, the violation of which will result in a fine. The maximum (the same 10 thousand rubles) will have to be paid to the administration of catering establishments or transport companies that do not observe tobacco “segregation”. In relation to the person who smokes inappropriately, the norm of the Code of Administrative Offenses, which provides for a fine for violating public order, will continue to apply.

Mr. Gerasimenko also said that deputies plan to introduce another anti-nicotine law to the State Duma, this time tightening liability for the sale of cigarettes to children. The amount of fines will fluctuate depending on the status of the seller. It is proposed to fine grandmothers near the metro 1000-2500 rubles, store sellers - 5 thousand, and legal entities - up to 10 thousand rubles.

It is noteworthy that federal anti-tobacco initiatives have recently been actively developed in the regions. For example, in February, deputies of the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg approved amendments to the law “On Restricting Tobacco Smoking”, which prohibits smoking in entrances - “on inter-apartment landings, stairs, in elevators, corridors, on technical floors, attics, and basements.” , as well as in other premises included in the common property of the owners of premises in apartment buildings.” However, according to Mr. Gerasimenko, despite all the good intentions of the authors of these proposals, it is technically very difficult to prohibit a person from smoking in his own entrance. “It’s clear that residents are unhappy when their neighbors go out to smoke in the hallway and smoke comes out,” he said. - But how to control the ban? This norm is quite difficult to implement.”

Irina BELASHEVA