National smoking ban killed in committee

Author: Sofâ Pavili

Tamara - For the third time since 2010 a national smoking ban has failed to pass in the Agausian legislature. On Tuesday the ban was swiftly rejected by the Committee for social protection, health, family and human rights in a 7-10 vote. The vote saw MPs from all across the political spectrum voting for and against the measure. 

Agausia is one of the few European countries which does not impose a national ban on smoking. While smoking is prohibited in schools, hospitals, public transport, and government buildings most other institutions are able to prohibit smoking, at their own request. It is common in Agausia to see patrons smoking inside restaurants clubs and bars.     

Oldim Nioraže (SD), an MP on the committee for social protection, health, family and human rights, voted against the ban and told reporters why, "A majority of Agausians are not smokers, so imposing a ban on a minority of the population seems undignified. The public is already forbidden from smoking in most public places, and private institutions have the right to regulate smoking as they see fit." 

A 2020 survey estimated that nearly 26% of the Agausian population are smokers. 

(Agausian Translation)  

2010 tsëlis šemdeg mesamed, motsëvis erovné aḱržalva Agûsës saḱanonmdeblo organoši ver daamt́ḱitsëâ. Samšabatsëâ aḱržalva stsërapad ûarḱo sotsëaluri datsëvis, žanmrtelobis, ožakisa da adamânis ûplebebis ḱomit́et́ma 7-10 kmit. Ḱenčisḱris šedegad deṕut́at́ebma mteli ṕolit́iḱuri sṕekt́ridan kma mistsës zomebs da mis tsënaaǵmdeg.

Agûzâ aris Evroṕis im mtsëreritsëkovan kveḱnebs šoris, romelitsëâ ar atsësebs motsëvis erovnul aḱržalvas. Miukedavad imisa, rom motsëva aḱržalulâ sḱolebši, saavadmḱopoebši, sazogadoebriv t́ransṕort́ši da samtavrobo šenobebši, skhva datsësebulebebs šeužlât aḱržalon motsëva, saḱutari motkovnit. Agûzâši kširâ ṕat́ronebis nakva, romlebitsëâ etsëvân rest́ornebis ḱlubebsa da barebši.

Oldim Nioraže (SD), deṕut́at́ma sotsëaluri datsëvis, žanmrtelobis, ožakisa da adamânis ûplebebis ḱomit́et́ši, kma mistsëâ aḱržalvas da ganutsëkada žurnalist́ebs, rat́om, „Agûselebis ûmravlesoba ar aris mtsëveli, amit́om atsësebs aḱržalvas mosakleobis ûmtsëresobaze. Rogortsë čans ûǵirsad. Sazogadoebas ûḱve eḱržaleba motsëva ûmet́es sažaro aǵilebši da ḱeržo datsësebulebebs akvt ûpleba daareguliron motsëva, rogortsëâ mat mizanšetsënilad mâčnât“.

2020 tsëlis gamoḱitkvam daaǵina, rom Agûsës mosakleobis titkmis 26% mtsëvelâ.