Tobacco Law Towards Failure

The biggest violator is estimated to be the Gastranomy sector of 80%, of which lead nightclubs with 100% cafes above 80% and restaurants by 60%.

Shkumbin Spahiu, official at the Kosovo Development and Avokim Centre (KADC), says of Online Economy that the anti-smoking law is uninvolved, and as he says in the fall of implementation, the large number of elections politicians benefit from citizen or business have affected.

The smoking ban in public environments is at a very low level almost unmet. All the work has remained in the will of local owners and institution managers. The hand of state or law is not seen at all due to the drastic decline in the work of institutions responsible for the implementation of 11x1>.

The largest “Shakers are gastronomy sector close to 80% of the violation where the clubs of the night lead 100%, cafes 84.5% restaurants 60%. There have been many elements that have influenced the decline in implementation of this law starting with the large number of elections that have been held. We have had demands towards the implementing authorities that during these election periods I do not punish offenders because of the political parties' interest in profiting votes, and have thought that in this way they benefit citizen or business”, he says.

Spahiu mentioned that the decline has also affected the courts, who have procrastinated the causes of violations.

So it requires authorities to prosecute fines without sending them to the courts, but to have the opportunity to pay in 30 days.

In the first few years, there has been extraordinary work of inspectors by sending a large number of subjects to courts, but their treatment and the large number that the Court has had for other violations has done that process of dealing with these long-standing violations. This has produced the discouragement of law enforcement authorities. With the new Law of Anti-Wrath, new authorisations are given to inspection authorities who monitor the anti-smoking law. Fines can be prosecuted directly by these authorities without being sent to the courts. In 15 or 30 days, if the party doesn't pay it then the content goes to the finisher”, Spahiu says.

And, Health Ministry spokesman Faik Hoti says in recent years there is a decline in implementation of the tobacco law due to inadequate political support.

The law needs intervention and support for monitoring and implementation.

The first three years when law enforcement has been under way, there is a decline in implementation in recent years due to the failure of several mechanisms to make its implementation. An inadequate political support. The point is that the law has brought some innovation and change in terms of public health and in the cultural behavior of the population. However, recent results show there is a need for new interventions and stronger support and organisation of mechanisms that the law holds responsible for monitoring and implementing it”, he said.

Hoti reports that in 2019 over 500 inspections were made in the health sector, 22 visits to monitor tobacco control, respectively.

He argued that 1/3 of the people who do not consume tobacco are deprived of such environments, until it causes cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

The Ministry of Health has the health inspectorate, which is responsible for monitoring and law enforcement in health. Over the past year, it has made over 500 inspections of different natures in health institutions. 22 visits have been specific designed to monitor tobacco checks”

<x0-Layers in the gastronomy sector are highlighted and in particular during the autumn and winter season in spaces that are legally guaranteed to be free from smoking, tobacco is consumed there. 1/3 of the population that doesn't consume tobacco is deprived of the right to stay in such environments. This law has brought improvements, compared to the research before the law goes into effect, we have a reduction in tobacco consumption. Smoking causes cancer and cardiovascular diseases”, says Hoti.

Cavalry manager “Journal”, Liridon Beqiri, says they have the share of the smokers' club until he stressed that there is no trouble as citizens are conscious.

Our institutions support us. We got no problems, we're good. We have a separate part for cigarettes that doesn't bother us. There's no smoking inside and there's no trouble. More trouble for music and other things. Citizens are aware and each understands”

But that is against citizens themselves who are guests of the capital's locals.

Mirim Taverlan says they cannot stay inside bars due to heavy tobacco consumption.

It's getting really hard because we don't smoke. It can be harmful to our lungs, we can't stay there. It's the coffee shop's fault that they don't take measures to get rid of people who violate law”, he says.

Citizens Joy Gashi says she needs to leave and not stay too much in the coffee shop because of smoking.

It's too bad. We don't stand to smoke if we stay in a coffee and leave immediately”, he says.

While Gen Berisha claims that both Obilic's smoke and local tobacco have exacerbated the situation.

The Obilic and tobacco are too heavy right now. Half an hour 20 minutes we can't stand more than we're consuming a lot of smoking”, he says.

In April 2013 The Kosovo Assembly has adopted the tobacco control law.

By this law measures are determined to ban, limit tobacco use of tobacco products, as well as fines if the law is not implemented.