The MPs, members of the Commission of the Kyiv city Council on issues of local self-government, regional and international relations, the meeting agreed on the appeal to the Verkhovna Rada and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine concerning strengthening of responsibility for Smoking tobacco products in prohibited areas.

“The current legislation determines the list of places where Smoking is prohibited, except in designated places. Thus their total area should not exceed 10% of the total area of the building or premises, in addition, they must be equipped with ventilation. However, quite often, dining options ignore all legal restrictions, providing, including services on Smoking hookahs”, – informs on Tuesday afternoon, the press service of the city Council.

To remedy the situation, members of the city Council has developed a draft decision which proposes amendments to the Code of Ukraine on administrative offences and the law of Ukraine “On measures to prevent and reduce the use of tobacco products and their harmful influence on population health”. In particular, a significant increase in the fines for Smoking tobacco products in prohibited areas.

“Legislation has in a certain way it works, but in practice its use has proven that unscrupulous restaurant owners simply pay this penalty in 1,7 thousand-5 thousand. UAH, and then to continue to break this rule, continue to create inconvenience to people. Therefore, we are initiating a significant increase in these fines from 50 to 100 times. It is only the size of the penalty can be a significant limiting factor in the violation of this rule, because the minimum penalties and creates the problems that face the residents of the houses where the food, where you can smoke, including hookahs,” said the author of this draft decision , the Deputy of the Kyiv city Council Alla Shlapak.

Thus in a press-service of the city Council noted that the draft decision should consider at the plenary session of the city Council.