Bulgarian Association "Green Initiatives" proposes to generate a black list of all establishments that do not comply with the ban on smoking in public places.

The issue of obeying the law and sanctions for violators is once again on the table as it always happens with any law in our society, the Association stresses.

"The smoking ban does not harm establishments, what is detrimental is that in every city there are privileged coffee shops, bars and restaurants that are above the law. This is a public secret that leads to unfair competition and makes efforts to adopt new rules futile," according to "Green Initiatives."

They further add that such blatant breaches of the law cause the citizens' mistrust in institutions.

"We support a ban on smoking in public places because it puts us among developed societies of Europe and across the globe. The repeal of this law, even partially, will be a serious precedent that could turn into a vicious legal practice," says the Association.

Not only non-smokers, but smokers are against changing the ban introduced in 2012, they point out.

On Wednesday, the Bulgarian Socialist Party moved to parliament an amendment to the Health Act to ease the full ban on smoking in public places in the country.

The draft amendment has been signed by nine Socialist members of parliament in a highly controversial move, believed to be orchestrated by people in sectors, hurt by the ban.

If passed, the restrictions would fall for night clubs, restaurants, cafes, bars, airports, stadiums, and casinos, provided they can designate special smoking areas.

The full smoking ban was introduced in June 2012 by the Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria party, GERB, government of former Prime Minister Boyko Borisov.

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