Gastronomia does not respect law, continues smoking in locals

Smoking at locals is estimated to be a major concern for many non-smoking citizens, especially during the winter season. This disturbing situation, they say, is due to a lack of respect for the antismoking law, which, although it entered into force years ago, is not being implemented. Some citizens told Kosovo Radio that during winter it is impossible to visit cafes from cigarette smoke.

“out, smoking ban needs education. Don't drink it! They need to be educated and pronounced sentences. State does not respond. We're showing you that we're not strong enough for the state. Disaster! As in men's age. Every corner, every bar. I'm not even going out with a coffee drink of”, a citizen of the capital declared.

Sanitary Chief Inspector in the Food and Veterinary Agency Ibrahim Trsnjak told RTK that in Kosovo and generally in the Balkans there is no high level of social awareness to respect laws, while another problem is the small number of sanitation inspectors.

One of the biggest challenges we have in the last ten years is that we've only worked with ten central inspectors trying to implement the law. It's an extremely small number in proportion to over 13 thousand gastronomy subjects. We have the biggest challenge of law enforcement in cafe bars where smoking is consumed especially at the time of the afternoon”, Tarsnjak said.

In Kosovo there are only 57 Sanitarian inspectors dealing with monitoring the implementation of the Anti-smoking Law, but they are also tasked with controlling food and many other obligations. According to the Antismoking Law, if tobacco is allowed in areas where it is prohibited by law, business subjects can be fined between a thousand and three thousand euros, until physical persons between 30 and 50 euros. According to the World Health Organization, smoking kills more than 8 million people each year.