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84% of Ukrainians support the ban on smoking in public places
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
84% of Ukrainians support the adoption of a law that would ban smoking inside most public spaces, including all workplaces, residential buildings, and offices. This is the conclusion of a study conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology.
A high level of support for smoke-free rooms is recorded in all regions of the country. The highest is in the East and North - 88%, the lowest, but also preferable, is in the West - 78%. The law is supported by 92% of women and 76% of men.
Legislation on a complete ban on smoking in restaurants and cafes is supported by 77% of the population, and in bars by 74% of the population.
Only 91% of Ukrainians recognize passive smoking as harmful to health: 35% of Ukrainians are “very bothered” when they are smoked, 31% “quite a lot,” 16% “only a little,” and 17% “does not bother at all.”
83% of Ukrainians believe that the rights of customers and employees to breathe clean, smoke-free air, particularly in restaurants, bars and cafes, are higher than the rights of smokers to smoke there. Only 8% of Ukrainians consider the rights of smokers to pollute the air with toxic substances from tobacco smoke higher.
The government should do more to protect every worker, including those in restaurants, bars and cafes, from exposure to other people's cigarette smoke - 88% of Ukrainians believe so.
Let us recall that the anti-tobacco bill No. 9474 "On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine (regarding the Improvement of Certain Provisions on Restricting Places for Smoking Tobacco Products)" was registered on World No Smoking Day on November 17, 2011, by 12 people's deputies of various political forces. If the bill is adopted, all cultural and sports institutions, as well as closed premises of cafes, bars, and restaurants will be 100% free of tobacco smoke.
"The adoption of the bill will lead to a significant reduction in the negative impact of tobacco smoke on people," says People's Deputy Tatyana Bakhteyeva, Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Health. At the same time, the main responsibility will be placed on the owners of establishments, which will facilitate the practical implementation of the requirements of the legislation and international obligations of Ukraine regarding the protection of people from the harmful effects of tobacco smoke. In addition, this will lead to a decrease in mortality, as well as a decrease in the number of fires."
Reference. The Kyiv International Institute of Sociology conducted a nationwide survey of 1,000 randomly selected Ukrainian adults over 18 years of age from November 27 to December 7, 2011. The statistical error of a sample of 1,000 respondents with a reliability of 0.95 does not exceed ±3.2%.