What to Do if You See Someone Smoking in Your Building

Tobacco Control Law in Georgia was launched on May 1, 2018, under which smoking is prohibited in buildings, on public transport, in educational establishments, and in cafes and bars, aside from a number of exceptions. It became mandatory to clearly place visual and written signs noting the prohibition / restriction of smoking at all entrances and in other visible places on the territory of the property/transport.

Although many people work to promote law enforcement, there are those who still violate the law and the rights of others in public gathering places.

What should we do if we see a crime being committed on public property? If someone sitting near you is smoking, what can you do?

First, ask the person to stop smoking, pointing to their action being a violation of the law. If the person refuses, contact the manager (or, if on public transport, the driver- who is expected to be responsible for the law being upheld on their mode of transport).

If the manager (or driver) does nothing, then you should inform the law enforcement agencies who are responsible for the issue.

“I call on everyone to use the 112 mobile app. Through this app, you can send information to 112 about a violation of law and where it happened. The information will be transferred to patrol officers and the police will execute the law,” explains Lela Sturua, Head of the Department of Non-Contagious Disease Control.

Lawmakers and initiators of the law explain that if a person reporting a crime wants to remain anonymous, their anonymity will be protected. If not, their name and surname will be announced.

So, just how many people violate the smoking law these days? What are the statistics? What is the situation in the regions and what is the attitude of the population?

"We continuously conduct monitoring throughout Georgia. Law enforcement is above 90%. We receive information through our hotline and 112, but many people still don’t know that 112 can protect their rights,” Sturua says. “I receive information about crimes on my mobile and ignore not one! We call the place where cigarettes are being smoked, for example, and talk to the manager. In addition, various non-governmental organizations send us information that helps us monitor the process of law enforcement. It is unfortunate that reports about violations in public institutions are still being received. And in some cases, employees feel reluctant to report violations committed by their superiors. They don’t know that their right to anonymity is protected, and we are working on disseminating this information.”

“As for the attitude of the population towards the law, it is positive,” Sturua says. “Before the adoption and execution of this law, the public was made ready. Surveys also prove it. People are now enjoying smoke-free public places - restaurants, cafes and so on. They can take children there, and their hair or clothes no longer have the smell of tobacco. Generally, the attitude towards having to smoke outside is positive, though as I mentioned, sadly, there are still a number of public servants who smoke in their offices."