Anti-smoking law violated again

To avoid conflicts with administrators of private subjects, Top Channel filmed with hidden cameras some of the places where the law is violated. While the situation continues, the Health Ministry brings a list of 163 fines throughout Tirana.

The Director of Policies at the Health Ministry, Pellumb Pipero, declared that the fines need time to enter in effect.

But in many cases, the inspectors who monitor the implementation of the law have turned this into a business for their own interests. Besides favouring the places where they give fines, they take 20.000 ALL in their own pocket rather than giving a 50.000 ALL fine.

“I guarantee that on the first case that we will have proof about bribes, the measures will be extreme. Our responsibility is that all bars should be equal in front of the law”, Pipero declared.

The high rank official of the Ministry appeals the citizens and bar owners to report abuses, rather than taking the side of the law implementation.

“The Ministry gave an order yesterday to amend the law. We have received the approval of the Parliamentary Commission and we will discuss about the areas where smoking will be allowed and where not; if the fine is enough or if it should be increased. It is time for the citizens to become responsible. The results remain to be seen”, Pipero declared.

Pipero explains that besides increasing the fine, they will propose to also fine the citizens who violate the law.

They also ask the police to cooperate for collecting the new fines that will come after the anti-smoking law.

Top Channel