A smoking ban in all public places including restaurants, cafes and bars takes effect in Croatia, after a six-month transitory period expired today.

According to the law, smoking at bars will only be allowed on terraces, while restaurants can allocate a separate room for smokers, but the establishments cannot serve food or drink in these areas. Fines range from HRK 1,000 (EUR 136) for smokers to HRK 15,000 (EUR 2,039), or three average monthly salaries, for owners of premises who allow it.
The health ministry estimated that tobacco kills roughly 10,000 people annually in Croatia while an additional 3,000 die from passive smoking. Most cafe and restaurant owners complained the ban would cripple their businesses and should have been delayed in times of recession, which has taken a heavy toll on the European Union candidate country.
Croatia already has laws banning smoking in health and education facilities, and marking out separate smoking areas in other public spaces. But the rules were often ignored, notably in bars, restaurants and offices. (pi)