The amount of fine for using electronic cigarettes and hookahs in public places is announced

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Uzbekistan has prepared a draft law that will establish a specific amount of fine for using electronic cigarettes and hookahs in public places, Kun.uz correspondent reports.

It should be noted that in early October, the law “On restricting smoking of hookahs and electronic cigarettes in public places" came into force in the country. However, no specific amount of fine for this violation has been established in the legislation then.

Now, in accordance with the amendments to Article 56-1 of the Code on Administrative Liability, it is planned that citizens will pay one third of the minimum wage (67,576 sums) for using electronic cigarettes and hookahs in public places.

In addition, the code will be supplemented by the article 56-2 (assignment of premises located in public places for smoking hookahs and electronic cigarettes). For these actions, citizens will receive a fine of five to ten, and officials from ten to fifteen times the minimum wages.

The draft document, also, considers the liability for advertising hookahs and electronic cigarettes. In particular, after making amendments to Article 23 of the law “On advertisement”, it will not be possible to distribute hookahs and electronic cigarettes as well as to sponsor events that use their name, trademark or image.

In addition, it will be prohibited to distribute, including the sale of goods (T-shirts, hats, games, etc.) using images of hookahs and electronic cigarettes, the establishment of images, names and other information about them on the facade, showcases, on carrying items and other places of shopping facilities.

Smoking of hookahs and electronic cigarettes is prohibited:

•  in stationary shopping objects, as well as public catering, except for specially designated premises for smoking hookahs and electronic cigarettes;

•  in cinemas, theaters, circuses, concerts, exhibition halls and other indoor facilities intended for mass recreation;

•  in clubs, discos, computer halls, premises equipped to provide access to the Internet, or in other places of entertainment (leisure);

•  in museums, library and information institutions and lecture halls;

•  in local and long-distance trains, in wagons (including vestibules) of suburban trains, on riverboats, in city, suburban, intercity and international buses, in taxis, fixed-route taxis and urban electric transport, as well as on aircraft;

•  in underground passages, at transport stops and places of temporary storage of vehicles;

•  in buildings of airports, railway, automobile and water stations;

•  in the buildings of public authorities and administration, economic management bodies, as well as enterprises, institutions and organizations;

•  in institutions and organizations of the healthcare system, educational institutions, fitness halls, physical training and sports facilities;.

•  in the premises of employment;

•  in the entrances of multi-residential buildings, as well as in children's and sports grounds located on the local area;

•  in squares, parks, on the streets and other public places.