Georgia: Finally Free from Tobacco Smoke

From May 1, 2018, tobacco smoke (including electronic cigarette and pipe) is prohibited in the buildings of various institutions, including bars and restaurants.

Where is it forbidden?

• Buildings or facilities of any purpose;

• Public transport (except taxi and yachts);

• Café-bars and restaurants;

• Educational, childcare and educational institutions;

• Other educational institutions, libraries, youth camps, children's entertainment centers and surrounding territories, as well as at social events involving persons under 18.

Smoking is also prohibited in the buildings and facilities of medical and pharmaceutical institutions and their territories; in petrol, gas and gas distribution stations, and in buildings and facilities and their surrounding in which flammable material is stored.

Where is smoking allowed?

In the house of the person who uses it for residential purposes; in taxis and on yachts; in casinos; in detention facilities; in penitentiary establishments; in specialized laboratory equipment studying tobacco smoke; in Cigar Bars; in case of a special order from the head of the establishments, for inpatient psychiatric and palliative care; in the transit zone of the airport; in designated tobacco friendly spaces.

Along with the ban on smoking, from May 1, all kinds of tobacco advertising and sponsorship are banned.

• Trade objects which feature external advertising or domestic accessories which involve tobacco advertisements, will be fined GEL 3000 by the new legislation.

• If smoking is to be seen on TV, a special warning video will be shown beforehand and at the end of the program.

About the Fines

• For smoking in a building and / or in its surroundings, the fine is 500 GEL, and the administration of the institution will be fined double that if the act is repeated;

• In the entrance of a multi-storey building, the roof or pedestrian lift, the fine for smoking is 50 GEL;

• Public transport drivers will be fined 500 GEL for smoking in the vehicle, to be doubled if the act is repeated;

• Smoking on rail transport, in the sealed part of the vessel and on a plane, will incur a fine of 50 GEL, and in case of recurrence, this will be doubled.

It is illegal to sell cigarettes within a 50-meter radius of schools or to display cigarettes in the proximity of children's food products and toys. The fine for doing so is 150 GEL, doubled again in case of reoccurrence.

Thank you for not smoking. Thank you for preserving a healthy work and living environment for all!