New Czech law cracks down on smokers

PRAGUE (Reuters) – The Czech Republic became the latestcountry to crack down on smokers on Wednesday when the lowerhouse passed a law banning smoking in public places andrestricting cigarette sales from January 1 next year.

Under the new law, smoking will be banned in public spacesin buildings, in the workplace and at places such as bus stopsand railway platforms.

Restaurants, cafes and bars will have to have speciallyequipped rooms for smokers, and the type of shop allowed tosell cigarettes will be restricted, mainly to tobacco shops andsupermarkets, greatly reducing the number of sales outlets.

The law also bans cigarette sales from vending machines.

The law has yet to be passed by the upper house ofparliament and signed by the president, but neither is expectedto oppose it.

There was no immediate comment on the new law from PhilipMorris CR, the country’s biggest cigarette maker, whose profitmargins are already being squeezed by higher excise taxes ontobacco products.

Countries such as the Irish Republic, which have alsobrought in laws banning or restricting smoking, have reportedmarked drops in cigarette sales.