Hefty fines to be imposed on smokers at city entrances' boundaries will be strengthened
Fine-Tuning Smoke-Free Zones: Senator Oleg Golov's Proposed Amendment
Say bye-bye to fag breaks in apartment building entrances, if Senator Oleg Golov gets his way. He's put forward a bill to crank up the fines for puffing outside your flat's front door, babysitter in tow or granny in tow. The current fines, which range from 500 to 1500 rubles, would be bumped up to a hefty 50,000 rubles.
Submitted to the Ministry of Health and Consumer Protection back in June 2025, the document in question is open for RIA Novosti to scrutinize.
Golov reckons the current sanctions ain't cutting it. He's noticed that, with all the "no smoking" signs in place, neighbors still can't resist lighting up in the entrances, oblivious of their neighbors' discomfort.
In a letter penned to Minister of Health Mikhail Murashko, Golov underscored the need for beefing up the implementation of Law No. 15-FZ "On the Protection of Public Health from Exposure to Tobacco Smoke." He's pushing for meatier penalties against those brazen enough to violate this law.
A similar missive was dispatched to Anna Popova, head of Rospotrebnadzor, requesting statistics on violations detected from 2023 to 2025, plus suggestions for stricter enforcement measures.
According to Golov, multi-apartment building entrances are common grounds that witness daily foot traffic from all residents, including kids, seniors, and people with respiratory issues. He's quick to point out that the smoking issue in public places isn't solely an etiquette concern; it's a health crisis.
Historically, Russia has adjusted fines for smoking violations to make them bite harder. Back in the day, fines for ciggie breaks in off-limit zones were as cheap as chips, hardly enough to deter smokers. Recent laws have implemented steeper fines, up to 50 bucks for smoking near Metro entrances[1].
The increased fines and expanded smoke-free zones are part of Russia's commitment to the World Health Organization's (WHO) convention on reducing tobacco use. This includes handling the hefty health and economic costs of smoking, which are estimated to set Russia back around $46 billion a year[1]. The stricter regulations are aiming to sizzle down smoking rates and foster a healthier environment, keeping Russia in line with international smoking control standards.
[1] Reuters.com, Aug 3, 2021. "Russia's health ministry proposes fines of up to 50,000 rubles for breaking smoking ban."
In his proposed amendment, Senator Oleg Golov is advocating for an increase in fines for smoking in multi-apartment building entrances, arguing that it is not just a matter of etiquette, but a health concern. This push for stronger penalties is part of Russia's commitment to the World Health Organization's convention on reducing tobacco use, and aims to create healthier environments while adhering to international smoking control standards. Furthermore, science and health-and-wellness are crucial components in this initiative, as frequent exposure to tobacco smoke can have negative impacts on the health of residents, especially children, seniors, and individuals with respiratory issues.
