Say goodbye to smoking in reality shows

Changes on the horizon

Foto: EPA

Amendments to the tobacco legislation, put forward by the government, aim to ban the advertising of tobacco products, introduce special licenses for retailers and equalize electronic cigarettes with normal cigarettes. That was announced today by Health Minister Milojka Kolar Celarc.

The minister said the bill includes a number of provisions from the new EU Tobacco Products Directive, including measures recommended by the World Health Organization. The first measure will be putting large warnings and graphic images on the front and back side of cigarette packs, which should cover 65 percent of the pack's surface.

It will also be prohibited to offer scented tobacco products on the market or cigarettes infused with vitamins, as they could mislead users that the tobacco products in question are not harmful. The new law will also fully tackle the issue of electronic cigarettes and make them equal under the law to normal cigarettes, explained minister Kolar Celarc.

In addition it will be forbidden to sell e-cigarettes to minors or smoke them in enclosed spaces. The online sale of tobacco products will also be prohibited. In addition the government plans the introduction of a so-called "tobacco cent", which would be used to fund prevention programs. That would raise the price of tobacco products and make them less accessible. Kolar Celarc said that was the goal of the ministry.

No more advertising of tobacco products
Smokers also face a smoking ban in private vehicles when in the company of minors. The police is to make sure people follow the law in the same way it oversees the use of mobile telephones while driving. To be introduced is also a full ban on advertising, promoting and sponsoring tobacco and tobacco-related products, including in shows, videos, reality shows... The advertising ban will affect all retailers and the media.

The minister further explained that the EU directive also introduces a license for selling tobacco products. A special registry for the licenses will also be set up and it will be possible to take away licenses from retailers. The biggest problem so far has been the sale of tobacco products to minors. The head of the Public Health Directorate, Vesna Kerstin Petrič, explained that state inspectors have been ineffective as retailers selling cigarettes to minors have been quick to recognize them. According to the changes it will also be possible take away licenses from such sellers for few months. In the case of more violations, licenses can be taken away permanently.

A. Č.; translated by K. J.