Parliament rejects proposed easing of tobacco smoking ban in Bulgaria

Bulgaria’s parliament has rejected a proposal that the country’s public-places tobacco-smoking ban should be relaxed, according to a Bulgarian News Agency story.

MPs last week rejected two bills seeking to amend the Health Act, with 107 voting against, 64 voting for and 17 abstaining.

The easing of restrictions would have seen the establishment of designated, separate smoking and non-smoking areas in large restaurants and coffee shops, while the owners of smaller establishments, with floor areas of less than 70 square meters, would have been able to decide if their establishments should or should not allow smoking.

Smoking would have been allowed in bars and night clubs.