Israeli soccer fans. No more smoking during matches
Photo: Eli Elgarat
MK Adi Koll
Photo: Benny Doutsh
New law to ban smoking in soccer grounds
Bill approved by ministerial committee calls for designated smoking areas in football stadiums
The Ministerial Committee on Legislative Affairs has approved a bill banning smoking in soccer grounds.
The proposal was submitted to the committee's approval last week and was rejected, but following an appeal filed by Health Minister Yael German, it was submitted for a second vote Sunday. This time it was approved.
The bill was initiated by Knesset Member Adi Koll (Yesh Atid) following citizens' complaints that Israeli football stadiums are filled with cigarette smoke, harming non-smoking fans.
No More Puffing?
Sarit Rosenblum
Health Ministry survey finds 27.2% of Israeli men, 14.5% of Israeli women are smokers. More than 30% of smoking population says it has cut down on cigarettes due to smoking ban
The bill aims to complement the existing anti-smoking law, which prohibits smoking in public places, and calls for designated smoking areas in soccer stadiums.
"I think the sports experience is spoiled when one is surrounded by smoking people," says MK Koll. "This is a standard which exists in all soccer fields in the world, and there is no reason why we shouldn't be able to enjoy smokeless football in Israel too."
The bill will next be brought to the Knesset for a first reading before being handed over to the committee ahead of the second and third readings. The ministerial committee's support guarantees a majority for the proposal in the Knesset vote.
