[Intl-tobacco] Israel bans smoking from almost all public places (fwd)

[Robert Weissman]

Israel bans smoking from almost all public places
BMJ 2001;322:695 ( 24 March )
by Judy Siegel-Itzkovich / Jerusalem
Source: British Medical Journal, Saturday, 3/24/01

A committee of Israel’s parliament unexpectedly adopted regulations last
week that make its antismoking laws among the toughest in the world.

Soon after returning from the recess called because of the prime
ministerial election, the Knesset's labour, social affairs, and health
committee approved the banning of smoking in the public places where it
was not already banned.

In three months, when the new restrictions take effect, smoking will be
banned in all hospitals and medical clinics, public areas of shopping
malls, public corridors or waiting rooms, lecture halls and celebration
halls, and facilities used for performances. Separate, ventilated smoking
areas will be designated for smokers’ use.

In all these cases, the owner of the facility may ban smoking altogether.
In addition, smoking will be banned in all restaurants, cafes, and
cafeterias, except for a completely separate ventilated room where smoke
does not reach the rest of the facility.

Currently, food establishments that allow smoking must have no-smoking and
smoking sections, but the laws have had little effect because polluted air
passes freely between them. These prohibitions are on top of existing
restrictions on smoking in the workplace, lift, public transport, and
other locations set down by the 1983 law and its amendments.

About 27% of Israelis over the age of 18 smoke. The health ministry said
that the police and local authorities are responsible for catching
violators, but that the public, who can complain to owners of premises
about violations, will be the main enforcers.

Professor Shlomo Mor-Yosef, the director general of the Hadassah Medical
Organisation, whose two university hospitals in Jerusalem voluntarily
banned smoking— with much success—last year, commented that he was very
happy that Hadassah was the pioneer and adopted rules that will now be
mandatory in all medical facilities. "The proof of the pudding is in the
enforcement, and this requires substantial investment."

Staff should be offered smoking cessation courses; smoking areas protected
from the elements, but also completely separate from public areas, should
be available; and resources should exist for inspectors to hand out fines,
he said.

The Israel Cancer Association and non-smokers welcomed the new
regulations, but others were not pleased. Left wing member of parliament
Ilan Gilon, who smokes three packets a day, attacked the new Likud
government for "launching a stupid campaign against smokers by banning
smoking in public places instead of investing their time on expanding the
basket of health services and technologies."

Carmela Menashe, the military correspondent of Israel Radio and a new
mother, was outraged and said the "next thing the government will do is
prevent me from smoking in my own car." Other opponents of the regulation
claimed the regulations would discourage smokers from going out to
restaurants, which would lose customers.