Smoking Ban Enters Into Force
Thursday, 01 January 1970
Smoking in all indoor public spaces in Bulgaria is banned as of Friday. Under a law which parliament adopted a month ago, smoking is forbidden in offices, bars, restaurants, outside nurseries and schools and in stadiums.
Smokers who violate the ban will be fined up to 500 levs ($330/250 euro) for a first offence and double that amount for repeat violations. For owners or managers of restaurants whose clients smoke, the fine is up to 5,000 levs for a first violation and up to 10,000 levs for a repeat violation.
Checks if restaurants and bars comply with the new requirements were launched in Sofia already in the early hours of Friday, the state-run Bulgarian National Television reported.