Polish parliamentarians have given up on banning smoking in pubs, altering pending legislation to leave the choice up to owners.

The health subcommission is working on legislation that will ban smoking in public places including: schools, workplaces, cultural and sporting centres, on public transport, in train stations, bus stops and airports. Besides that, it will be illegal to smoke within ten metres of a building.

However, MPs are backing down from the more controversial regulation of banning smoking in bars where there is only one room. Instead, bar owners will be able to decide whether or not their business will be ‘smoking’ or ‘non-smoking.’

“The goal of the law is to protect against second hand smoke. Owners of restaurants will have to choose from whom they want to earn money: from smokers or non-smokers and clients will have a choice as to where to go,” stated Beata Malecka-Libera, member of Civic Platform who prepared the change in legislation.

The bill is set to be voted upon in the Sejm, the lower house of parliament, just after vacation. It would go into force from 1 January 2010. (mmj)