No Concessions For Macedonian Smokers

The hospitality industry announced a 24 hour closure of their establishments in protest against the new measure that they say has reduced their profits drastically by forcing smokers out.

“Despite the announced protests, the government is not considering any changes in the smoking protection law,” Pesevski told media.

He argued that the positive effects from the law will be felt in the long term, with a reduction in the amount of money that the state pays each year for treating smoking related diseases.

The strict ban entered in to force from the start of the New Year. Anyone flouting the ban faces a cash fine of between 150 to 300 euros - equivalent to an average monthly salary - while owners of clubs where smokers are spotted face fines of 2,500 to 4,000 euros, making the law one of the strictest in Europe.

Out of 2 million people in the county, the official statistics show that about half of all adults are nicotine addicts. The drive to stamp out smoking has also caused an outcry among the public, who object to the size of the fines if caught flouting it. Smokers are now forced to smoke outside the establishments on freezing cold winter temperatures.

Retailers also report losses from declining demand for cigarettes.