A law banning smoking in public places came into effect 1 July 2006. This law allows police officers to file reports on administrative offenses, while administrative commissions can now impose fines for smoking in public places. The size of this fine ranges from one to seven tax-free minimums.  These steps are unlikely to reduce the amount of smoking in Ukraine in the short term, thinks Project Manager of the International Centre for Policy Studies Andriy Bega.

However, they will protect non-smokers from passive smoking in public places and at work, which is believed to be no less dangerous than active smoking.

The ban on smoking in public places is a necessary, but not sufficient step to control tobacco. According to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control ratified by Ukraine, for tobacco policy goals to be consistently reached, the Government should also ban all outdoor advertisement of tobacco products and tobacco advertisements in the media, and to use price pressure by raising taxes on tobacco products. Only such a comprehensive set of steps is likely to really reduce the amount of smoking in Ukraine and its negative impact on public health and the country’s economy.