On 1 July, 12:07, trampled underfoot wrote:
> http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8127854.stm
>
> Greece acts to stub out smoking
> Women smoke in Athens. Photo: 29 June 2009
> Greece lags behind the rest of Europe in smoking legislation
>
> Greece has introduced a ban on smoking in hospitals, schools, vehicles
> and all public places.
>
> Those who break the new law face fines of up to 500 euros (=A3428), and
> businesses risk losing licences after several offences.
>
> Greece is the EU's heaviest-smoking nation - 40% of the population
> smokes.
>
> But defying the authorities is a national sport and there is no
> guarantee the ban will succeed, a BBC correspondent in Athens says.
>
> 'Moment of truth'
>
> Small cafes and restaurants with premises measuring less than 70
> square metres can choose either to be tobacco-free or to admit only
> patrons who smoke, our correspondent Malcolm Brabant says.
>
> Bigger establishments can have clearly identified and ventilated
> smoking areas.
>
> In order to give teeth to the new regulations, which came into force
> on 1 July, smokers who break the law can be fined up to 500 euros.
>
> On the first offence, businesses will be fined 1,000 euros. Repeat
> offenders will face even bigger fines, and ultimately, on the fourth
> violation, could risk losing their licence.
>
> Each year, 20,000 Greeks die from tobacco-related illnesses and the
> cost in terms of health care amounts to some 1.5bn euros.
>
> Many workers are exposed to passive smoking.
>
> Greek Health Minister Dimitris Avromopoulos has said the moment of
> truth has arrived, with the ban aiming to revolutionise people's
> outlook.
>
> But many Greeks regard the new law as an infringement of civil
> liberties, our correspondent says.
>
> He says that in the face of widespread civil disobedience, successive
> governments have always had a problem enforcing new legislation.
>
> And so despite the tough talk, there is no guarantee that the new
> measures will succeed.
Bla bla bla.
At least the Greeks intend to retain some choice, unlike the draconian
UK measures.
Now, apparently, there's a move to extend the smoking ban to outdoor
areas!!
They really want to kill off pubs completely?
Surreyman |