New rules against smoking from March

It’s two years now since smokers cannot light a cigarette in public places thus “theoretically” protecting the health of non-smokers. EU members –including Hungary– pay special attention to reduce the number of smokers. The Council of Health Ministers will decide about the latest EU law against smoking on 14th of March.

Over the past few years the rules and prohibitions on smoking and the sales of tobacco goods have been changed. Since 1 January, 2012 it’s no longer allowed to smoke indoors in public places, in the immediate vicinity of public institutions, as well as at bus stops and railway stations. Each catering establishment, restaurant and entertainment place can decide themselves whether they want to designate a kind of tent as an open smoking area for their customers or not. However, the National Public Health and Medical Officer Service (ÁNTSZ)  pointed out that if these tents are lockable, they are considered as enclosed places, so smoking is prohibited there. The majority of the smoking offences took place in these restaurants and entertainment venues last year, thus more than 3 million forints has been imposed on those lighting cigarettes at non-smoking public areas like railway stations and bus stops.

Furthermore, the government regulates not only the price but the place where tobacco ca be bought. In order to reduce the youth smoking, only in National Tobacco Stores (nearly 6,000 in Hungary) can sell cigarettes and tobacco goods since last summer. Pricing, but even the packaging is strictly controlled and became more expensive. The national tax office (NAV) and ÁNTSZ have been monitoring each store and their products more frequently. A pack of cigarette’s price has risen from HUF 600 to HUF 1000 during the last two years. That means a pack of cigarettes now is 40% more expensive.