Russian MP suggests prohibition on ‘smoking while walking’
Date
12/7/2024 4:38:38 PM
(MENAFN) Amir Khamitov, a Russian MP and head of the State Duma Sports Committee, has proposed a ban on smoking while walking in public spaces. The suggestion was reported by RIA Novosti on Monday, following a letter Khamitov sent to health Minister Mikhail Murashko, urging changes to Russia’s 2013 smoking law, which already imposes strict restrictions on smoking in public areas.
Khamitov argued that banning smoking while walking would not only make cities cleaner and more enjoyable but also help reduce smoking among young people. He stated that the initiative came from a group of unnamed civic activists.
The MP explained that smoking while walking has several negative effects, including exposing people nearby to passive smoke, contributing to litter from discarded cigarette butts, and setting a bad example for children and young adults. However, it remains unclear whether the proposal would allow smoking while standing still on the streets if the amendment is passed.
Russia has been tightening its smoking regulations over the past decade. The 2013 law prohibited smoking in restaurants, bars, long-distance trains, and the entrance halls of residential buildings. Smoking is also banned in parks and near public venue entrances, with expanded restrictions later applied to electronic cigarettes, vapes, and other alternative smoking products.
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