Serbia to move from smoking restrictions to bans

Serbia will next year impose a ban on tobacco smoking in all enclosed public places, according to a Radio B92 report quoting a story in the Blic newspaper.

The current law allows smoking in bars, restaurants and cafés with floor areas greater than 80 square meters, where owners are able to set aside at least 50 percent of the space for smokers.

But under new legislation to be brought in, smokers will no longer be able to use the special ventilated rooms that now exist in many of these establishments.

A Health Ministry official heading an expert commission for the prevention of smoking, Srmena Krstev, said the new legislation would mean a total ban in all working and public places.

However, smoking will be allowed in the case of patients and inmates housed in psychiatric hospitals, social protection facilities and prisons, but only in designated rooms.