Smoking Ban Takes Effect In Croatia

The Ministers will enjoy their cigarettes in the courtyard, under the sky.

ZAGREB, CROATIA – Tobacco smoke is a thing of the past in Croatian offices, school, kindergartens and hospitals. Not even the rain, which has been pouring down on Zagreb from the early morning, could distract the citizens from dragging smoke. Thus, we might soon see scenes in the street like those from advertisements for anti-nicotine addiction chewing gums.

However, what must be done is not hard, the old saying goes. Employees will be more nervous at work, but when we think of 1,000 kuna fines (approximately 134 euros) which smokers have to pay if they light up a cigarette in a place where it is not allowed, there is nothing left to do, but obey the law.

Apart from doctors, teachers and kindergarten staff, the government building has been prepared for the smoking ban. Thus, government officials, ministers and reporters will be able to light up a cigarette in the courtyard, under the sky.

Ministers like Bozidar Pankretic, Marina Matulovic-Dropulic, Branko Vukelic and Petar Cobankovic , who have been smokers for a long time, will be able to enjoy their favourite vice after a cabinet sitting after all. This law also made them think how often they enjoyed nicotine and some, like Minister Cobankovic, decided to cut back.

On the other side of St. Marko`s Square, at the Croatian Parliament, smoking is banned from all the rooms. If we suppose this law will increase nervous workers, we can expect intense Parliament sittings as well.

However, when asked if smoking will be allowed at the Parliament café, the PR office could not say. A deadline of six months was left for cafes and restaurants to adjust to the smoking ban.

Whatever the case may be, Croats will be able to enjoy a cigarette only where nobody can touch them – at home.