Health Ministry to propose substantial increase in fines for smoking and tobacco retail violations

RIGA - The Health Ministry will propose substantial increases in fines for various smoking and tobacco retail related violations, LETA was informed by ministry spokeswoman Anna Strapcane.

According to the proposed amendments, there will be increases fines for various violations, like, for example, increasing the fine for smoking restriction violations from EUR 15 to EUR 100.

Another fine will be increased for not placing the informative slogan ''Smoking kills - quit now!'' on tobacco products.

For having a smoking area which is not in accordance with regulations - the fine will be increased to between EUR 1,000 and 2,500. At the moment, the fine is between EUR 250 and 350.

Various other tobacco and smoking related fines are also planned to be increased as well.

The ministry points out that the reasoning for this is that the previous fines have not been effective enough to prevent smoking and tobacco retail violations, as well as to better protect the health of non-smokers.