The draft smoking law will be presented at a government session on March 24, Health Minister Azir Aliu announced. The law requires cafes to create a separate entrance for the non-smoking section.

The law was originally supposed to take effect on March 1, but was postponed due to objections from the hospitality sector and the tobacco industry. After several consultations with stakeholders, Aliu claims that "all open issues have been resolved".

The World Health Organization has defined standards for clean air in spaces designated for smoking. Scientific analysis has shown that terraces with two open sides allow sufficient air circulation.

The minister acknowledged that infrastructure challenges exist, particularly in Skopje where over 7,000 cafes operate terraces with layouts that do not allow for three open sides. The law allows roofs to be considered as open sides, since the air is purified within seconds when the roof is open.

"The idea is to protect all citizens who do not smoke, while designating specific spaces for smokers", Aliu emphasized.