Croatia - lifted smoking ban in bars and cafes..

October 10, 2009 - Croatia has lifted a smoking ban on bars and cafes. The Croatian government moved on Thursday, September 10th to loosen a controversial public smoking ban.

On April 1, Croatia banned indoors smoking in all public places, and bar owners say the restriction has halved their profits and forced many of them to close. Croatia began enforcing a ban on smoking in most indoor areas on Wednesday, May 6, 2009.

About a third of Croatia's 4.5 million people are believed to be smokers.

So the government announced Friday, October 9th that it will ease the ban, allowing spacious cafes and bars to have separate smoking areas, while smaller ones can decide whether to allow smoking or not. Smoking places will, however, have to install extensive ventilation systems. The owners are given six months to adapt.

In the European Union, 12 countries have, or are planning, some kind of ban on smoking in public places.

Reference: Smokers in Croatia go back in bars as tobacco ban lifted - temporarily by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, 10/9/2009.

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Croatia begins enforcing smoking ban on May 6, 2009..;
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Croatia - ban in smoking in public places goes in effect..,
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Click on image to enlarge; Croatian Coat-of-Arms..