There are still enough countries in the world where you can smoke, but which are not scary to visit.
Gazeta.Ru has compiled a list of countries where you can still smoke a cigarette while comfortably sitting in a cafe, sipping coffee or something alcoholic, rather than huddling in some designated corner as if we were back in school smoking behind the garages so the principal wouldn't notice.
According to the World Health Organization, 6 million people die each year from tobacco-related diseases. There are 1 billion smokers worldwide, and 80% of them live in developing countries. Moreover, out of every three cigarettes lit in the world, one is smoked in China. As for Russia, as you have probably guessed, 43.9 million people smoke here, that is 40% of the country's population.
Global tobacco control is growing by 10% per year. As of 2013, 78% of Earth's inhabitants do not smoke, and this figure is also growing – not smoking is gradually becoming a global norm.
All this dry statistics is good for those who do not smoke, and for those – that is, all of us – who do not want children to smoke. But about adults who already smoke, for whom one of the few pleasures is to sit somewhere with coffee and a cigarette, and from whom this pleasure is being taken away by more and more countries each year, the dry statistics are silent.
Civilized countries where one can do this are becoming fewer each year. So, where to go for an adult, health-risk-aware smoker who is still willing to take those risks.
AUSTRIA
In this country, there are many very refined laws banning smoking in public places, but oddly enough, office premises are excluded from the list of public places; whether you can smoke at work or not is decided by each individual employer. Moreover, if a cafe or restaurant is outdoors or if smoking sections are separated from non-smoking sections and well ventilated, you can smoke in cafes as well.
BELGIUM
Here, first they completely banned smoking in cafes and restaurants, but the cafes and restaurants revolted – the number of customers dropped sharply. In 2007, under pressure from outraged smoking public, cigarettes were returned to cafes, provided that these cafes would not offer food to customers. And what happened, cafes stopped doing that and reclassified themselves as bars. Then in 2011, "public places" that allowed smoking were prohibited from serving not only food but also drinks. To be sure. Nevertheless, there are still some open summer cafes in the country where you can light up.
BULGARIA
In this country, they did it simpler – smoking is banned in all enclosed spaces, but fortunately, it's warm now and there are many open ones.
CROATIA
Since 2008, the country has been waging an unequal battle with its own smoking citizens, and it seemed to be winning, but since 2011 anti-tobacco laws began to lose ground. Cafes that allow smoking still face many strict requirements (mainly related to ventilation quality and room size), but you can still have a smoke here now.
CYPRUS
The laws of the European Union are tightening their grip on the island beloved by Russians every year, but the island is not giving up – in specially equipped premises of restaurants and bars (and who cares about premises when everyone sits outside anyway) you can smoke.
GERMANY
Every year, the anti-tobacco laws of this country only get tougher, but there is one interesting exception: smoking in small bars is still allowed, because without smokers they would not survive, would close down, and small business in Germany is sacred.
CZECH REPUBLIC
The anti-tobacco law of this country is very strict, but it protects the smoker, not the other way around. Restaurants and cafes are required to organize separate premises for those who cannot drink without a cigarette.
DENMARK
Smoking in cafes and restaurants is allowed. The laws mainly care not about visitors, although about them too, but about cafe and restaurant employees – if they complain, and only then, the owner will be obliged to organize a separate ventilated room for them where waiters can take a break from smoke.
GREAT BRITAIN
Since 2007, smoking has been banned even in pubs, which has resulted in the new norm of standing in a crowd at the door of the establishment with a pint of beer, blocking the entire sidewalk and preventing pedestrians from walking, in any weather. True, open verandas were not affected by the law, and most pubs have them, so you can still have a smoke while sitting in this country.
ITALY
Now there is someone who spits on EU laws, which can force a complete ban on smoking in some small Hungary, but cannot completely subdue rebellious Italy. If the smoking area is separated and well ventilated, smoking in restaurants and bars is allowed. Not to mention open-air establishments.
LATVIA
Smoking is allowed in those bars and restaurants that agree to equip separate rooms for non-smokers, meaning smoking is allowed in most bars and restaurants.
PORTUGAL
In this country, various smoking bans, and there are many of them, do not include bars and restaurants, as smoking in bars and restaurants is considered part of national culture.