Sun, Jul 05 2009

Greece's parliament approves ban on smoking in public places

Sat, Nov 08 2008 13:42 CET byClive Leviev-Sawyer 485 Views 1 Comment

The Greek parliament has approved a ban on smoking in public places, including all restaurants, bars and public transport, from January 1 2010, Greek media reported.

Greece, which is reportedly in top five of the heaviest smokers in the European Union and has one of the highest rates of smoking in the world, made the move at the same time that a Croatian ban on smoking in public places came into effect. Croatia, however, has allowed a six-month grace period for restaurants and bars to obey the legislation, while hospitals and government institutions are required to comply immediately.

Greece has provided for a 300 euro fine for lighting up in an area where smoking is forbidden.

The Greek legislation will also ban the sale of tobacco products to people under 18. Those who sell tobacco products or liquor to under-18s will face fines of up to 20 000 euro.

Smoking will be banned in workplaces but designated smoking areas may be set aside. Previously, Greece banned smoking in hospitals, offices and taxis and legislated separate smoking and non-smoking areas in restaurants and bars, but media reports said that these laws were widely ignored.

Apart from Croatia, other South East European heavy-smoking countries that have anti-smoking laws in force include Turkey and Bulgaria. Most EU countries, including Belgium, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and the UK, have strict legislation against smoking in public places.

Comments

Anonymous Jenny Sat, Mar 28 2009 21:49 CET
Inappropriate comment?

The start of this ban has been moved forward by the Ministry of Health to 1st July 2009 since they feel it will be easier to implement in the summer.

Greece isn't among the heaviest smoking countries in Europe - it *is* the heaviest smoking country in Europe.

It is scandalous that it has taken the Greek government so long to do anything at all about the awfully high (and no doubt greatly underestimated) rates of death from smoking in Greece. Previous laws were a joke. Some Greeks I know regard this new law as a joke too.

The government will have to come down with a firm hand, or it will be totally ignored like the former laws are ignored, with smoking in hospitals, doctors surgeries, shops, workplaces, children's nurseries, internet cafes full of kids, in fact everywhere. Greeks by and large don't give a damn about this type of law. It is impossible to get away from smoking in this country. Sadly, without heavy fines, public health promotion and serious training for law enforcement, this won't work.

Greeks are perfectly capable of enforcing and following laws when they feel like it. Nobody smokes inside a cinema. Only drivers try to smoke on buses. Most Greeks respect and understand that you do not smoke there. But there is no such understanding about smoking anywhere else. Greeks behave as if smoking is wonderful and good for everybody.

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