Smoking to be Banned from Stadiums and Sports Complexes from January 1

From January 1, 2020, smoking in the open space of stadiums and sports complexes will be banned.

Under the Tobacco Control Act, new regulations will have to be implemented for stadiums and sports complexes that have an administration.

As the head of the Tobacco Control Alliance, Giorgi Bakhturidze explains, smoking is prohibited on the stadium podiums, however, stadium administrations have the opportunity to arrange appropriate areas for smokers.

Bakhturidze believes that the main challenge is to prepare administrators to ensure that they use audible warning systems and inform the crowd.

According to the law, smoking in hotels is forbidden, according to the current law, smoking is allowed in 20% of hotel rooms. From January 1, all hotel rooms will be subject to smoking bans.

Administration of hotels and stadiums will be fined 500 GEL in case of smoking, in case of repeated fine it will be doubled to 1000 GEL, the third time it will increase to 2000 GEL.