`3 million Azeris smoke`
Some 3 million people, including 300,000 women,
smoke in Azerbaijan. 60 million cigarettes are consumed daily in
the country of over eight million people, Musa Guliyev, deputy
chairman of the parliamentary commission on social policy, told
Radio Liberty.
He said adopting a law restricting smoking in public places was particularly important for the lives of Azerbaijani teenagers and youths.
"A major campaign against smoking has been underway in the world for many years. Laws restricting smoking have been passed and severe penalties imposed [on violators]. Adopting such a law in Azerbaijan is the demand of present day practices."
According to the lawmaker, his commission has completed work on such a draft law. The commission will consider the issue at forthcoming meetings and further recommend bringing the issue for discussion in parliament.
Guliyev said the bill has been drafted in two versions. The first bill recommends amending and supplementing the existing Law on Tobacco and Tobacco Products. At the same time, it envisions the creation of public programs to decrease smoking cigarettes.
The other option is to adopt a separate law, and a respective bill is ready, Guliyev said. The Law of the Azerbaijan Republic on Restricting Smoking, which contains 12 articles, has been sent to executive authorities and feedback has been received. All of the bodies involved have supported the initiative.
The list of locations where smoking will be banned has been compiled. If the law passes, those smoking in healthcare, scientific and educational institutions, museums, libraries, movie theaters, public transport, bus terminals, and other locations would be fined, Guliyev said.
He said adopting a law restricting smoking in public places was particularly important for the lives of Azerbaijani teenagers and youths.
"A major campaign against smoking has been underway in the world for many years. Laws restricting smoking have been passed and severe penalties imposed [on violators]. Adopting such a law in Azerbaijan is the demand of present day practices."
According to the lawmaker, his commission has completed work on such a draft law. The commission will consider the issue at forthcoming meetings and further recommend bringing the issue for discussion in parliament.
Guliyev said the bill has been drafted in two versions. The first bill recommends amending and supplementing the existing Law on Tobacco and Tobacco Products. At the same time, it envisions the creation of public programs to decrease smoking cigarettes.
The other option is to adopt a separate law, and a respective bill is ready, Guliyev said. The Law of the Azerbaijan Republic on Restricting Smoking, which contains 12 articles, has been sent to executive authorities and feedback has been received. All of the bodies involved have supported the initiative.
The list of locations where smoking will be banned has been compiled. If the law passes, those smoking in healthcare, scientific and educational institutions, museums, libraries, movie theaters, public transport, bus terminals, and other locations would be fined, Guliyev said.
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