Smoking on balconies will be banned in Russia

The government has approved changes to the Fire Regulations, which prohibit the use of open fire on the balconies of apartments, hotels and hostels. Thus, lighting candles and smoking were prohibited on balconies, TASS reports.

The Ministry of Emergency Situations proposed to make changes to the rules. They will come into force on October 1. The ban on smoking in fire and explosive areas does not apply to special smoking areas.

For violation of the rules, liability is provided under Article 20.4 of the Code of Administrative Offenses (violation of fire safety requirements). Possible penalties include a warning and fines for individuals from three to five thousand rubles if a fire starts.

The new rules also established fire safety requirements for medical institutions and cinemas. In cinemas, before screenings, viewers must be informed about what to do in case of fire. In hospitals, wards for children and seriously ill patients will be located primarily on the first floors.

In 2018, the Krasnoyarsk Regional Court for the first time in the history of judicial proceedings prohibited residents of one of the houses in Divnogorsk from smoking on the balcony. A neighbor complained about the smoke to various authorities.

A law restricting smoking in public places was adopted in Russia in 2013. Smoking is prohibited on stairwells, in entrances and elevators, in educational, medical, sports institutions and near them, as well as at a distance of less than 15 meters from the entrances to train stations, airports, ports and metro stations.

According to the Ministry of Health, in Russia men are more likely to quit smoking.