Smoking in Restaurants is a Disadvantage for Tourists: Kerobyan

Four years ago, I quit smoking. Before that, I used to smoke three packs a day. However, when I went on business trips to countries where smoking was banned in public places, I ended up smoking just one pack, and by the end of the day, I felt good,” said Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan in a briefing with journalists, justifying the enforcement of the law prohibiting smoking in closed and open areas.

Kerobyan also assured that the law would not have a major negative impact on restaurants and public catering establishments, and that they would recover their turnover in a month or two. “Many countries have already gone this route, and the results have generally been positive. Experience shows that yes, in the first one or two months after the introduction of such restrictions, the turnover of public catering establishments usually declines in various countries, but it quickly recovers because if smoking is an advantage for part of the population or society, it is a disadvantage for another part, including tourists, when smoking in restaurants or public catering establishments,” he said.