Greece imposes heavy fines for smoking in offices and restaurants Special

Starting today, Greece prohibits smoking in all enclosed public spaces and will slap offenders with heavy fines in a bid to reduce nicotine consumption in the country where 42 percent of the population are smokers.

After previous attempts to ban smoking in bars and restaurants, Greece introduced a new law that comes into effect on September 1, 2010. With fines up to 500 Euro ($ 635) for the person who smokes in an enclosed public areas, and fines up to Euro 10,000 ($ 12,700) for an owner of such a place who allows smoking on the premises, the government is showing its determination to drastically reduce the consumption of nicotine. The Greek press agency ANA-MPA reports that Prime Minister George Papandreou on Tuesday congratulated the health minister, Mariliza Xenoyiannakopoulou, and the anti-smoking committee for what he called their "exceptional work", adding

"Your efforts are extremely significant and contribute to the work we are doing today in our country, aiming to change attitudes, models and manners in order to upgrade the quality of living and to make our country viable, not only regarding the economy but also in every day life."

Compared to other European countries where less than a third of the population are smokers, Greece scores very high with its 42 percent smoking ratio, many of who consume about 40 cigarettes a day. Earlier attempts in 2002 and 2009 to ban smoking in Greece were generally ignored, and the heavy financial penalties are seen as a reflection on that. Owners of Kafenion's (coffee-shops) and Taverna's (restaurants), however, fear that the ban will keep customers away, and many regard the smoking ban as a threat to their livelihoods. "It's no problem in the summer," says my neighbor who owns a popular restaurant in the Cretan village where I live, "Everyone sits outside anyway, because the weather is good, it's warm, and it never rains. But we'll surely have problems in the winter," he continues to explain, "with our many storms here, and the rain sometimes going on for days. Nobody wants to be outside then, not even for having a quick cigarette away from the dinner table." In his judgment, Greeks may prefer to stay home, where they can have their after-dinner-smoke together with a few glasses of the customary Tsikoudia. Tsikoudia, sometimes called Raki, is a Greek spirit comparable to the Italian Grappa, made from the residue that remains after grapes have been pressed for wine-making.