The law against smoking is not new; it was put into circulation before the revolution. Remember the responses of society and of Facebook users? “What kind of salaries do people receive that you’ll fine them 800,000 AMD,” “People smoke out of bitterness; once Serzh leaves, they’ll stop,” and “Levon Altunyan, you got a new grant and now you want to steal from the people?” Now, the situation has changed. There is no more need to smoke out of bitterness because there is no bitterness anymore; the authority belongs to the people. I do not believe that anything substantial changed with regard to salaries, but in any case, people have started to believe in the future, so I believe that people will pay the fine without problems.
So, there aren’t many negative responses, which is a good thing. What remains is to accept the law and to carry out suggested enforcements. Problems rise here, of course. Smokers will begin to talk about their rights and demand that restaurants have halls for smokers and for non-smokers. But first, it is technically difficult for many restaurants; they do not have separate halls. Secondly, the owners of these restaurants typically seat people in the non-smoking areas if there is nowhere to sit in the smoking area. They won’t make these people leave so as to not lose customers. Therefore, if smoking is to be banned, then yes, it should be banned in all public places.
But carrying out the law brings forth an even bigger problem. Let’s imagine different scenarios.
- A customer is smoking, and the restaurant owner warns them about it. An argument ensues, and possibly a fight. Who should remove the customer from the restaurant, its security guards (if the restaurant has any), or should the police be called in all similar instances?
- A customer is smoking, and everyone simply tolerates it.
- A customer is smoking, and another customer complains, but the administration of the restaurant does nothing in response. What should the customer who complained do? Call the police? Or should they simply leave?
So, the law is welcomed, and smoking in closed private places was dangerous both during the previous criminal regime and now during the revolutionary regime. The mechanisms for enforcing the law simply need to be included in the law. Otherwise, it is better to have no law at all than to simply have one on paper.
Aram Abrahamyan
