site.btaCivil Society Organizations Propose Further Measures Against Tobacco Smoking

Sofia, November 18 (BTA) - The civic initiative Bulgaria Without Tobacco Smoke and the Smoke Free Life Coalition held an online presentation on Thursday, during which their representatives discussed in front of journalists a legal framework for decisive and effective fight against smoking.

Discussed measures, such as suspending the promotion of tobacco products, prohibition of sponsorship of sports competitions or other activities by the tobacco industry, are part of the Bulgarian legislation, but they require more effective enforcement, the organizations said.

We will insist on the prohibition of the use of heated tobacco products, including hookah, electronic cigarettes, and others, in indoor public spaces. The organizations have been demanding a strict definition of an "indoor public space" for almost 10 years, Bulgaria Without Tobacco Smoke representative Masha Gavrailova explained. Authorities should have the right to ask for the offender's identity documents, because otherwise they are unable to impose fines, Gavrailova added.

Bulgaria is a leader in tobacco smoking among European countries with 29 per cent of the Bulgarian population smoking on a daily basis, Coalition Chairperson Gergana Geshanova noted, citing data by Eurostat. Together with intermittent smokers, smoking Bulgarians amount to 36 per cent of the population. The fewest smokers per country are in Sweden, Iceland, Portugal, the United Kingdom and Denmark.

Research conducted by the World Health Organization in 2020 revealed that 26 per cent of 11-year-old children in Bulgaria smoke. Above one-third of 16-year-olds also smoke and girls smoke more than boys. Among the 17-year-olds smokers are 35 per cent.

DD/YV/МТ/