Romanian clubs organize “goodbye” parties for smokers one day before smoking ban

Several clubs in Bucharest and other cities have announced they would organize “goodbye” parties for smokers on Tuesday, March 15, the last day when smoking will still be allowed in public places. The Drunken Lords pub in Bucharest’s Old Town organizes such a party dedicated to smokers, according to a post on its Facebook page. The Lacrimi si Sfinti restaurant, owned by famous Romanian poet Mircea Dinescu, also organizes a “smoking wake” ceremony. “The fiddlers will be playing mourning songs and the sweetbreads will be sizzle in the frying pans,” the restaurant’s representatives announced. Other locations have decided to organize special parties on Wednesday, the first non-smoking day. Smoking will be banned in all enclosed public spaces starting March 16 and those caught smoking in bars, clubs or restaurants risk being fined RON 500 (EUR 112). Moreover, the club, bar, and restaurant operators who will still allow people to smoke inside risk having their activity suspended, besides paying hefty fines. This radical change in legislation is expected to affect the bar and club operators in the beginning, but many believe that the business will return to normal in a few months. Moreover, surveys show that non-smokers may start going out more often. However, one particular industry may be more affected than the others. Casino owners are worried that the smoking ban will lead to lower revenues as the gamblers will have to go outside to smoke once in a while. Some casinos are already trying to find solutions to keep players in, by setting up bigger bathrooms, which may also be used as smoking places, although still illegally, according to Wall-Street.ro. Meanwhile, a Romanian MP has already announced that he would try to change the law that bans smoking. Deputy Daniel Fenechiu said that a definition of enclosed public spaces needed to be added to the law so that smoking would still be allowed on patios that had two or even three walls around. His law initiative also aims to allow smokers to form smoking associations or clubs, which can meet in spaces exclusively dedicated to smoking and associated activities, according to Mediafax. editor@romania-insider.com (Photo source: The Drunken Lords on Facebook)