Police in Burgas have caught 147 students smoking or using other banned substances in the vicinity of school premises, the Regional Police Department told Iskra.bg.
The checks are part of a large-scale campaign initiated by parents, teachers and institutions, which was announced at the start of the school year, and its main goal is to curb smoking among adolescents.
The data are for the period 9 October to 3 November this year. 147 warning reports have been written to the parents of the children and no sanction has been imposed on any parent so far. The police have already explained that the campaign will start with warnings only, after which they will proceed with fines, which amount to between BGN 300 and BGN 500.
The checks are being carried out in large educational establishments on the territory of the Burgas Police Department, mainly high schools, identified in advance by the officials. They take place regularly during the week according to the school plan – mostly during the big break between classes and the break between the two shifts. The inspections will continue until the end of the school year, and the actual fines are expected to start soon, especially in case of repeated offences.
Signs have already been placed in schools in Burgas warning that the use of tobacco, alcohol and psychoactive substances is absolutely prohibited, and offenders will be sanctioned. The ordinance also includes e-cigarettes, which fall under the heading of tobacco products but are commonly used by students.
A check by Iskra.bg in the large high schools in Burgas showed that smoking by students in the courtyards and adjacent sidewalks near the fences continues, despite prevention efforts.
The police added that checks are also being carried out on commercial establishments for the unregulated sale of alcohol and tobacco products to minors, and no sanctions have been imposed so far.
