Partial Indoor Smoking Ban in public places is ineffective remedy

There is no safe level of exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke. The smoky air in most restaurants and bars across Kyiv (capital of Ukraine) could clear up very soon, since lawmakers promised to introduce a set of measures next year to encourage public venues to limit smoking only to closed-off areas.



The decision to clear up the air in Kyiv’s restaurants – the majority of which now permit smoking – has been hailed by non-smokers and anti-smoking groups.



But experts say that the measure falls short. Health officials say that only a complete ban on indoor smoking in public places can prevent the damage caused by inhaling second-hand smoke, a major cause of disease and premature death for non-smokers. The medical consensus is that there is no safe level of exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke.



In addition, many countries that have implemented stringent indoor anti-smoking policies believe that they are effective and positive for public health, while not hurting businesses. Smokers tend to adjust to the ban and even smoke less, which according to the surveys they are willing to do anyway.



The latest recommendation for separate smoking sections is totally optional, admitted Oleksandr Brihinets, head of department of culture and tourism in the Kyiv City Council and one of the authors of the measure.



He said that venues which don’t permit smoking would use special signs as an advert of their policy, and suggested that such establishments would be included in the official list of places recommended to visit by tourists. The owners of such businesses would as well receive particular benefits from the city council. For example, large neon billboards would not be regarded as advertisements, as they will be for all other venues from 2011, helping to save thousands of hryvnias (local currency) in payments to the city council, Brihinets added. Other proposals related to these recommendations are being considered.



In addition, the ban on smoking in indoor public place could even help restaurants by attracting non-smoking customers who are scared away from restaurants in attempt to protect their helath from exposure to tobacco smoke.



Fabienne Labe, a 40-year-old scientist from France, who dined in one of the restaurants in Kyiv, said that the majority of people seek to get smokers light up outside.



"In France smoking we have a full fledged ban on smoking in public places and this is great," she admitted. "French people are pleased with the ordinance, even if they smoke. It is bad when somebody is smoking near to you, and moreover, you might come with children and they would be also exposed to cigarette smoke."



Most Europeans are of the same opinion as Ms. Labe. In conformity with a survey carried out by the European Commission, more than 70 percent of the residents of European Union member-countries back the ban on smoking in enclosed public venues.



Several European countries, such as Ireland, France and the United Kingdom have already implemented smoking bans and the EU are considering an EU-wide prohibition.



However, the recommendation in Kyiv has met criticism from restaurant and bar owners, who said that almost a half of all their visitors are smokers, so they should have their freedom of chice as well.





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