KIEV - The Ukrainian government passed a country-wide smoking ban yesterday that would not allow smoking electronic cigarettes, hookahs and regular cigarettes in public places, RIA Novosti reports. The ban will go into effect six months after being published.

Government buildings, restaurants, stadiums, health care services, playgrounds, phone booths, public transportation, cafes, cultural facilities and elevators are among the places smoking will be banned. "The adoption of this document was necessary since, according to statistics, 11 million Ukrainians are addicted to smoking as well as, unfortunately, every fourth child from 12 to 16," said Tatyana Bakhteyeva, who initiated the law.

Currently, more than 10 European Union nations have some sort of smoking ban. Neighboring Russia is considering a ban on public smoking and the open sale of cigarettes. The Russian Health Ministry€™s aim is to lower smoking in the country by 40% to 50%.

England enacted a tobacco display ban last month, and its government is considering a plain packaging law for cigarettes similar to Australia€™s. Meanwhile, tobacco firms have challenged the Australian plain packaging law in court.