Majority of Bulgarians Approve Smoking Restrictions

About 2/3 of the Bulgarians approve the restrictions on smoking in public places imposed by the government at the end of 2010. Photo by EPA/BGNES

Two thirds of the Bulgarians approve the government's restrictions on smoking in public places, according to a poll by the National Center for Study of Public Opinion (NZIOM).

The poll has been conducted among 1200 Bulgarians from March 3 to March 16.

Only 24% of the respondents do not approve the measures, while 5% are not informed that the government has banned smoking in public places.

According to the restrictions that entered into effect on December 19, 2010, indoor smoking in restaurants, clubs, bars, hotels, railroad stations, airports, malls, offices and schools is allowed only in separate spaces with closing doors.

The ban is approved mostly by women, people above 50 years and university graduates. Interestingly, 40% of the smokers also approve the measures aimed at restricting smoking in public places.

The poll also showed that 43% of the people above 14 years old are smokers. The most addicted are people between 30 and 39 years – 63%, and men – 47%.

The average age that Bulgarians start to actively use tobacco products is 19 years.

After the excise duty increase of tobacco products, people have cut down the number of cigarettes they smoke, the poll results showed.

The group of people who smoke more than 20 cigarettes per day has decreased from 19% to 9%. 

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