In two months it will be a year since the anti-smoking law came into force in Albania. At that time this new legislation was welcomed by most people. However, as you look at the current situation and the developments till now, you would have to admit that the antismoking law has gone up in smoke.
The main enforcing authority is the Ministry of Health, which as reported, has close to 200 inspectors all around the country. These people are responsible to ensure that the law is respected and those who break it, are to be penalized through fines and other legal measures. However, the inspectors have failed at their task completely. Meanwhile, they are paid about 10,000 Lek extra per month, for doing nothing. Basically wasting taxpayer money.
Today, if you visit the local bars or restaurants, you cannot help but get the stench of smoke on your clothes and body from people smoking near or around you. The situation is almost worst than what it was before the law was implemented. What is worst is the fact that you can often find people in health facilities like hospitals and clinics doing just that – smoking.
Moreover, the situation is not expected to change as local and central authorities are gearing up for the parliamentary elections coming up in June, and obviously this issue is not of major concern to them.
What do you think about this issue?
I have also noticed that in the state of Arizona somewhat of the problem with enforcement as well. I have seen it mostly in restaurants and public places. Most people will not report the problem but when you do most owner will tell people nothing. I know that we have a Tobacco Tax in Arizona. This tax actually raises the price of products but it does good because it goes to programs for the education of young children.
For me is a major issue as I hate breathing people’s smoke, but most importantly it’s not healthy at all.
For me also this is a very big concern. I avoid most of the bars only because of the smoke. I just cannot bear breathing the smoke as you mentioned above, the smell on your body and clothes. It’s terrible! It makes me so angry when I see this law being broken so disrespectfully. Me and my friends prefer going to open places or to places with no smoke at all. The ones I know are UFO University’s bar (near Piazza), St.Stephen Center and French Cookies (don’t know the exact name). There’s also a tiny bar at Tajvani complex, but there’s really tight. If you know any others please list them and do a favor to all non-smokers 🙂
Do we have any hope that this law will be respected? That the people that want to ruin their health can do that isolated from all others, as they deserve so as long as they don’t care about “killing” themselves and others as well…
I hope someday we will respect this law, but I mostly hope in the strictness of foreign policies and regulations being “obliged” to us in order to make bigger steps towards Europe.
Dear Daniela,
thank you for your comments. All three places that you mentioned are what I normally go to for the same reasons.
Two more places that come to mind that generally have a more tolerable smoke conditions are: International – behind the Presidency and Diesel – in front of ex-dictators villa at the Blloku.
Both of these places are not free smoke areas, however, due to their size or height allow for better ventilation.
it’s a shame really. everytime i come to Albania i get so stressed because of it and i prefer to go to the same places as you guys mentioned above. we really have the most “perfect” bunch of laws that look good in the eyes of the media and international attention but that has no power to rule the own country and for this the first to get blamed are people. those bar’s or restaurant’s owners who prefer not to get their clients move their a** outside the abr and poison themselves but decide to do the ignorant and outdated people in our country.
what’s wrong with you lazy people to go outside and leave other people’s breathe freely?
i struggle with Albanians mentality most of the time and maybe thats why i will always prefer to stay away from my country until people really start to think locally and act globally. it’s not hard people, if you just could think outside the box, for once!!
it’s a very good initiate Elvis to have this kind of bloggs. thanks and good luck with everything (i know elections will come sooner there).
Thanks Ola 🙂