HUNGARY: HEALTH ISSUE

Lawmakers not exempt from smoking ban

Parliament is a public institution, and as such Hungary's recent smoking ban fully applies to the building, Tamas Heintz, a lawmaker of the ruling Fidesz party and proponent of the anti-smoking law, told a press conference on Wednesday.

Under Tuesday's legislation, parliament's Room 13, traditionally used as the smoking room by lawmakers, will be deprived of its current function.

According to the law, smoking is not allowed within five metres of the doors of balconies of public buildings, which means that the only refuge for parliament's smokers to light up will be the terrace in front of the Hunters' Room, said Heintz.

Miklos Szocska, state secretary in charge of health issues, called the ban a huge achievement, and compared it to the first steps in clearing up tuberculosis over half a century ago.

The smoking ban which applies to all public locations indoors, including workplaces, restaurants and pubs, was approved with 271 votes in support, 37 against and 14 abstentions on Tuesday.

The ban will be in force in all public institutions, on public transport, at stops and stations, underground pedestrian passages and in and around playgrounds.

The law does not allow indoors areas to be designated for smokers in public institutions, workplaces or trains. However, smokers will be allowed to light up in open-air sections of restaurants and pubs.

Public education, child-care and health-care institutions, however, will be banned from designating areas for smokers both indoors and outdoors.

source: MTI