Smoking in Canada

The European Commission is considering banning smoking in outdoor areas such as café terraces, bus stops, and zoos. This potential move aims to further restrict smoking in Europe, following the example of countries that have already implemented strict measures. Experts say this is part of a broader effort to protect public health.

Over the next three months the Health Ministry will seek to close the loopholes in the anti-smoking legislation that allow closed areas to be characterized as open-air, thus allowing people to smoke.

More specifically, the smoking of cigarettes will be expressly banned in cafes, bars, restaurants etc that are closed with canopies, plastic sheeting and other protective barriers.

Lawmakers on Tuesday will be voting on the government's new law for clamping down on smoking in public, which also introduces stricter bans and stiffer fines than the previous, much-flouted legislation.

If the Health Ministry draft bill is ratified, as expected, the new law will go into effect the following day.

Montenegro's law to restrict the use of tobacco products, which will ban smoking indoors, comes into force tomorrow, with fines of up to € 20,000 for violators.

A law banning the use of tobacco products in public areas, excluding casinos, was unanimously adopted on July 31st.

The new law does not allow smoking in any premises or areas where food and drinks are consumed.

Regional authorities across Greece on Monday received detailed instructions on the strict implementation of a smoking ban that formally went into force more than a decade ago but has been largely flouted ever since.

Turkey will introduce a new smoking ban that will extend the smoke-free zones of restaurants to semi-closed parts of restaurants and cafes. 

Turkish Health Minister Recep Akdağ announced that they would introduce new regulations in 2017 to promote healthy life that will include steps against tobacco and tobacco products. 

On the occasion of World No Smoking Day on Tuesday, the Hellenic Anti-cancer Institute has called on the government to redouble efforts to enforce an anti-smoking ban in restaurants, bars and other public places but also to extend the ban to children's playgrounds, beaches and squares.

"Parks are among the few smoke-free places here," says Larisa Marinescu, 32, pushing a stroller with her eight-month-old girl round a park in Bucharest.

"It is very difficult to find a non-smoking place to eat with a child. This is not normal," she adds.

Marinescu is one of many Romanians who are strongly opposed to smoking.

Serbia's Finance Ministry is drafting a new Law on Tobacco that will completely ban smoking in enclosed public spaces, such as workplaces, cafes, bars and restaurants.

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