Bulgarian Parliament to Discuss Lifting of Smoking Ban

Parliamentary health committee head Desislava Daritkova. Photo by BGNES

Bulgaria's Parliament will discuss the possibility of lifting the full smoking ban in closed public spaces, according to parliamentary health committee head Desislava Daritkova.

Amendments that would reinstate the segregated smoking areas in bars, restaurants and other establishments will be discussed by the committee next week, Daritkova told reporters on Friday.

She expressed her hope that lawmakers will be reasonable enough not to scrap the full smoking ban.

According to Daritkova, restaurant owners have not presented convincing evidence that their businesses have suffered as a result of the ban that was imposed on June 1.

She pointed out that health arguments are more important than business arguments.

On Thursday, MPs from the ruling GERB party declared that the full smoking ban in indoor spaces in Bulgaria would remain without any future changes. Their statement came on the heels of reports about Bulgaria's Parliament considering easing the full smoking ban in closed public spaces that was imposed in the country on June 1. The Standard daily wrote Tuesday that the ban may only be lifted in bars and night clubs and only after 10:00 pm.

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