Jerusalem carrot-and-stick method to ban smoking

Published on Tue, 07 August 2007 6:08 pm

In Jerusalem implementation of smoking ban goes in full force. After introducing of fines for public smoking or lack of respective “No smoking” signs, ban becomes more restricted and serious controlled. This respectively results more awareness from smokers.

“The goal of the enforcement of the law is to prevent the suffering of those exposed to second-hand smoke and not the enrichment of the city treasury,” a municipal spokesman, Gideon Schmerling, says.

So, the fines are: if you smoke in prohibited by law place you ought to pay NIS 1,000, proprietors pays NIS 5,000. Also, you ought to pay up from NIS 310 for every violation of law. Most severe is about ashtrays, as every threw ashtray fine is of NIS 1,290 each.

As Jerusalem officials explain, the reason of fines is to make people aware about tobacco ban which passed unanimously on July, 25.

At the end of August, it is planned new introduction in existing law. Fines will be applied for absence of “No smoking” signs and special ventilated rooms where Jerusalem smokers can free light up.

The collected revenue goes to the municipalities and local authorities who plan to use all that money for improving the quality of life for the 75 percent of the population in Israel who don't smoke.

Along with the capital and the largest city of Israel, smoking ban is introduced in other cities as Arad, Haifa and Tel Aviv.

There are also applied fines and strictly controlled by local governments in these cities. Explanatory flyers will be distributed and pamphlets will be distributed in stands throughout public facilities about the hazards of smoking. It is announced every half an hour on special speakers an announcement in malls and public buildings that smoking is illegal in undesignated public spaces.