More than 70% of Romanians agree with the new law that bans smoking in all enclosed public spaces in Romania, including bars and coffee shops, according to a recent INSCOP survey. Only 28.7% of the respondents are against the new rules.

When it comes to how many Romanians smoke, only 30% of the respondents said they had this habit.

However, six Romanian Senators want to change the law and have already submitted a draft bill to the Senate for debate. According to the legislative proposal, the smoking would be allowed on covered or uncovered patios that have maximum three walls, in specially designated spaces, and casinos, reports local Economica.net.

Under the current law, which came into force in mid-March, smoking is banned in all public spaces that have a roof and maximum two walls. Find a short guide here.

Meanwhile, some Romanians try to find other solutions for their clients who want to smoke. For example, a bar in Constanta seaside resort was turned into a non-profit association. Thus, the 60 members of the organization can smoke here without risking a fine as the law says that smoking is allowed at home or in other places where no economic activity is taking place, reports local Digi24.

Besides a slight decrease in the number of clients, the bar and restaurant owners in Romania have also faced another problem since the new law came into force. There have been cases in which people said they went out to smoke and didn’t return to pay their bills.

Senators come up with exceptions to the smoking ban in Romania. 

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com