Smoking
Restrictions
By Andrea
Saula
SLUG: Smoking bans are spreading across Europe. Focusing
on public spaces, health conscious legislators in countries like Italy and
Ireland are unilaterally banning the habit in bars and restaurants – places
where smoking has been most heavy. Kosovo’s heavy smoking population is still
allowed to smoke without restriction, but that may soon change. UN Radio has
this report.
Hello and welcome, from the studios of UN Radio in Kosovo…
Social mores associated with smoke are changing in Europe. Cultural,
political, and technological advances are helping to paint the habit in a
negative light. Multi-million dollar lawsuits against tobacco companies in the
United States in the 1990’s only increased anti-smoking measures. In the last
two years, Norway, Ireland and Italy have all joined the U.S in banning smoking
in enclosed places like restaurants and bars.
But is the trend migrating to Kosovo where smoking in almost
every public space is made more worrisome given a youth population that appears
to be smoking more?
Blajaj
“It’s a habit to have a coffee and a cigarette together. You
can’t divide these two things. And coffee is mandatory.”
This is how Agim Blakaj the owner of one typically smoky bar in Pristina reacts to the news that Italy has banned smoking in bars.
Clear figures on consumption of cigarettes in Kosovo do not exist. Studies indicate that Kosovo is a heavy smoking population, and by the end of the month Kosovo’s National Institute of Public Health is preparing a comprehensive report on the matter.
Ramadani
“This research has been conducted by our Institute in
cooperation with Canadian Institute for Public Health and the Centre for
Disease Control (CDC) from Atlanta. Both Serbian and Albanian children between
13 and 15 years old were included in this research on cigarette consumption.”
Dr. Ramadani says that in the last five years, anti-smoking campaigns
were launched in order to raise awareness of the negative consequences of
consuming tobacco.
As well, the de facto smoking awareness perspectives
brought by the international administration in Kosovo have altered the habits of
locals. International organizations most often ban smoking in office settings.
But, the attitude is not easy to change. Sandra is a 30 year old
mother from Pristina. Sitting in a smoky bar during her lunch break, Sandra, an addicted
smoker says that in certain places, she supports a smoke-free environment.
Sandra
“At work I have to take care where I can smoke but when I’m
off, for the money I spend, I would go only to places where I’m allowed to
smoke. Of course that smoking should be limited, at least at places where there
are no children.”
Dr. Naser Ramadani of Kosovo’s Health Institute says a draft
proposal is in the ministry of Health and is likely to pass, bringing smoking
restrictions in line with other European countries.
But, as in other European countries considering a ban, such
legislation will not happen without its detractors – some of whom are questioning
if such bans go behind respecting the human rights of smokers.
Still, Pristina bar owner Agim Blakaj says that he would not
ban smoking in his bar, but he does admit that if fines associated with
violating such a law are too high, he would reconsider his decision.
Blakaj
“As a bar owner, I don’t mind a smoke. I am a smoker and I
would never forbid smoking cigarettes at my place.
I have couple of waiters that are non-smokers and that are disturbed by smoke but I haven’t heard anyone loudly complaining.”
With such a prevalence of smoking
in Kosovo, residents and business owners will presumably have more time to
adapt to any new anti-smoking measures. Given models in other western
countries, one possible solution offered is special ventilation systems to
ensure the air is smoke-free.
And this concludes today’s
programme – thanks for listening and stay tuned to UN Radio in Kosovo.