RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

Initiatives and Measures against Smoking

Bucharest intends to have the number of smokers reduced substantially over the next 20 years.


Warning: Trying to access array offset on null in /home/web/rri.ro/public/wp-content/themes/rri/template-parts/content.php on line 53
Initiatives and Measures against Smoking
Initiatives and Measures against Smoking


Warning: Trying to access array offset on null in /home/web/rri.ro/public/wp-content/themes/rri/template-parts/content.php on line 98
, 09.09.2016, 13:24

Romania was one of the last countries in the EU to ban indoor smoking. It was only this spring that Parliament endorsed a very strict law in this respect, stirring mixed feelings among the Romanians. While some welcomed the measure, smokers obviously criticized it, including even some MPs, who said they have to walk the long corridors of the worlds second-largest administrative building, the Parliament Palace, in order to get to the special outdoor smoking areas.



Consequently, the Senates Healthcare Committee tabled a number of amendments to the anti-smoking law, which will be discussed in the current parliamentary session. In short, if the amendments were adopted, smoking would be allowed in any indoor location, on condition that proper signs were placed in the designated areas.



Meanwhile, 42,000 people die every year in Romania because of smoking-related problems, such as heart and circulatory diseases, malignant tumours and respiratory complications. More than half of the teenagers over 16 years of age have smoked at least once, and one-third of them are regular smokers. In this context, authorities intend to reduce significantly the number of smokers in the next two decades. At an international conference on “2035 – Romanias first smoke-free generation, President Klaus Iohannis pleaded for prevention, as a priority in healthcare policies.



Klaus Iohannis: “We can save lives by means of prevention. By focusing today on education in view of prevention, including awareness of the risks entailed by smoking, we can give future generations a chance to live a healthier life and make informed lifestyle choices.



In turn, Healthcare Minister Vlad Voiculescu urged Deputies to dismiss the Healthcare Committees proposed amendments to the anti-smoking law:



Vlad Voiculescu: “This is an attack against the lives of all citizens, whether employers or employees, clients or staff, children or adults. This is why I am confident that the Chamber of Deputies will address this mistake. Relaxing this law cannot lead to any positive results, in terms of public healthcare.



In 2004 Ireland was the first European country to ban smoking in enclosed areas. All the neighbouring states wondered how the Irish were going to succeed in keeping smoking out of their lively pubs. The Irish accepted the measure and adapted to it. So did the citizens of other European countries. Why would Romania be an exception? The experience of the other countries has proved that the economic effects of such a drastic law are not unbeatable, whereas the benefits for citizens health are undisputable.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

Finance Minister Tánczos Barna (Photo: gov.ro)
Today in the News Friday, 04 April 2025

Aid for companies affected by US tariffs

Romania, just like other European economies, is preparing for the new tariffs announced by the Trump administration.   The government in...

Aid for companies affected by US tariffs
Meeting of the defence minister Angel Tîlvar and the NATO secretary general, Mark Rutte
Today in the News Friday, 04 April 2025

Meetings on defence

  The international hysteria about the US abandoning NATO is unwarranted, the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told the foreign ministers of...

Meetings on defence
Photo: Paul Teysen / unsplash.com
Today in the News Thursday, 03 April 2025

New US Customs Duties

The US president Donald Trump has made a decision, experts predicted long ago, namely new tariffs on all imports to US. In a speech delivered at the...

New US Customs Duties
Ilie Bolojan la Conferința „
Today in the News Thursday, 03 April 2025

Romania, towards the OECD

Romania is on track to complete all the technical analyses for joining the OECD in the next twelve months or so. The announcement was made by the...

Romania, towards the OECD
Today in the News Wednesday, 02 April 2025

EU reacts to US tariffs

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says Brussels has prepared “a strong plan” containing “firm countermeasures” to counter...

EU reacts to US tariffs
Today in the News Wednesday, 02 April 2025

Romania is getting ready for elections

Romania had in 2024, like in no other year in three and a half decades since it transitioned to democracy, four rounds of elections – local,...

Romania is getting ready for elections
Today in the News Tuesday, 01 April 2025

Romania marks one year since joining Schengen

Romania marks one year since partial accession to the Schengen area.   Romania marks one year since joining Schengen with air and sea borders, a...

Romania marks one year since joining Schengen
Today in the News Tuesday, 01 April 2025

Sea Shield Exercise

  “Sea Shield 25”, the largest multinational training exercise organised this year by the Romanian Navy, has begun in Constanta. A roughly...

Sea Shield Exercise

Partners

Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român
Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS
Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online
Institului European din România Institului European din România
Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti
Muzeul Național de Artă al României Muzeul Național de Artă al României
Le petit Journal Le petit Journal
Radio Prague International Radio Prague International
Muzeul Național de Istorie a României Muzeul Național de Istorie a României
ARCUB ARCUB
Radio Canada International Radio Canada International
Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti” Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”
SWI swissinfo.ch SWI swissinfo.ch
UBB Radio ONLINE UBB Radio ONLINE
Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl
creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti
italradio italradio
Institutul Confucius Institutul Confucius
BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți

Affiliates

Euranet Plus Euranet Plus
AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters
Digital Radio Mondiale Digital Radio Mondiale
News and current affairs from Germany and around the world News and current affairs from Germany and around the world
Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona

Providers

RADIOCOM RADIOCOM
Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company