Estonian Government Plans to Expand Smoke-Free Areas

Jun.27.2024

Estonian government plans to expand smoke-free zones in public areas like beaches and parks, aiming to restrict tobacco use.

According to ERR News, the Estonian government plans to expand smoke-free areas, aiming to limit smoking in public places such as beaches and parks. This policy is intended to equally restrict all tobacco and nicotine products.

Last week, the Estonian government approved its position on European tobacco policy. This includes expanding smoke-free areas on terraces, in parks, on beaches, and in other crowded leisure areas. For example, designated smoking areas with signs and trash bins have been set up on beaches in Latvia and Lithuania.

Aive Telling, Head of Environmental Health and Chemical Safety at the Estonian Ministry of Social Affairs, explained the plan.

Today, we are talking about restrictions that still allow individuals to smoke, but in a way that does not harm the health of those around them. This is the most important point in ensuring a smoke-free environment. We must consider others, and this is also key in changing societal attitudes to ensure our actions do not harm others.

Director of the Tartu Health Department, Piret Väljaots, emphasized concerns about compliance with these restrictions.

For example, today, drinking behavior on the beach is being supervised, and people will be reminded that drinking on the beach is not allowed. Similarly, tobacco use may also be monitored during the beach season. However, for public places such as parks, the issue becomes more complicated because these places do not have ongoing legal supervision.

Currently, the Department of Social Affairs does not have a detailed implementation plan yet.

Wei Ling said,

The situation will not change overnight, this is just the beginning of a long-term and broader process. Today, these positions represent the direction we are progressing in Europe.

References:

[1] Smoking may be banned in Estonian parks and beaches

Also Read:

[1] Estonia Bans Products from Companies Supporting Russian Military Machinery

[2] Estonia May Stop Selling PMI, JTI Products Due to Their Presence in Russia

[3] Trend of E-cigarette Use Among Estonian Adolescents

We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn

Notice

1. This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2. The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3. This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4. Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

Copyright

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

AI Assistance Disclaimer

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

U.S. FDA Unveils Next-Generation Agentic AI Tool to Boost Review and Regulatory Efficiency

The U.S. FDA has announced the agency-wide deployment of new agentic AI capabilities, providing all employees with an optional multi-step task automation tool. Building on the broad adoption of its earlier large-language-model system, Elsa, the FDA aims to use this next-generation AI workflow to accelerate product review, regulatory oversight, and internal operations, while maintaining strict human supervision and data security.

Dec.02 by 2FIRSTS.ai

Latvia’s Constitutional Court Upholds Vape Flavor Ban as Constitutional

The Constitutional Court of Latvia upheld the 2025 vape-flavor ban as constitutional, rejecting appeals by Pro Vape and SIA MASS Industry. Judges said the restrictions serve a legitimate public-health purpose by protecting youth from nicotine addiction and that the social benefits outweigh business losses.

Oct.24 by 2FIRSTS.ai

U.S. Lawmakers Seek to Empower HHS to Destroy Counterfeit Chinese Tobacco Products

Bipartisan members of the U.S. Congress have introduced the “Ensuring the Necessary Destruction of Illicit Chinese Tobacco Act” (END Act), seeking to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to authorize the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to directly destroy adulterated, misbranded, or counterfeit imported tobacco products.Major tobacco companies, including Altria, along with several public health organizations, have announced their support for the bill.

Nov.11 by 2FIRSTS.ai

Polish Government Plans Ban on Flavoured Nicotine Pouches and Disposable E-Cigarettes

Poland’s government is preparing to amend the Act on Protection of Health from the Consequences of Tobacco Use to ban the sale of flavoured nicotine pouches and disposable e-cigarettes. The Health Ministry says the goal is to protect youth from nicotine addiction, citing World Health Organization data on the risks of such products. However, industry representatives and legal experts argue the proposal is abrupt and could expand the illicit market.