Greece bids to stamp out smoking in public places with new law

Greece, Europe's heaviest-smoking nation, introduces a tobacco ban in public places yesterday, its third attempt in a decade to stamp out the country's love affair with cigarettes.

But critics fear loopholes in the legislation and its unpopularity mean it could suffer the same fate as previous anti-smoking bids, which proved ineffective.

Around 20,000 Greeks die a year from tobacco-related ailments and 42 per cent of the population smokes, according to the country's health minister, Dimitris Avramopoulos.

Greece lags behind many of its European peers who have outlawed smoking in public places in recent years.

But Mr Avramopoulos is convinced Greece can now catch up, declaring: "The moment of truth has arrived, this ban aims to bring a change that will revolutionise people's outlook."

Two previous anti-smoking laws introduced in 2002 and 2003 had no real effect, but the minister vows the new legislation will be "applied strictly without yielding to any sort of pressure".

The measures, which came into effect, aim to fill in gaps left by the previous laws which focused on creating smoking areas.

Under the new legislation smoking will be banned in hospitals, schools, in vehicles, and in all public spaces.

Huge billboards advertising cigarette brands will also disappear from city centres and roadsides, as the new rules ban tobacco advertising.

After a last-minute amendment to the law, companies with more than 50 employees will be able to set up dedicated smoking areas on their premises.

The ban does not apply to all cafes and bars, however. Premises over 70 square metres will be allowed to create small smoking areas, as long as they remain "totally separate".

Establishments under that size must choose whether to go entirely tobacco free, or to allow only smokers onto the premises.

But in a country where any attempt to impose bans is viewed as an attack on personal freedom, the new law has not been greeted with enthusiasm.

"It is a racist and fascist law, why does such a thing need to be done in Europe?" asked Antigone Mantziou, a 30-year-old student, sitting with a friend in an Athens cafe in front of an ashtray overflowing with cigarette butts.

"We come here to relax, why must a restriction be imposed?"

Theodore, a 45-year-old Athens bar worker, believes that most small watering holes will choose to accept smokers, saying: "Our customers come here to drink and smoke."

Alexis Zorbas, who leads the health ministry anti-smoking campaign, aims to reassure businesses with the promise the new legislation will be applied "gradually".

"Over the summer, outside tables will allow us to start off gently, and we will work with local authorities to accomplish the task," he added.

The health ministry has already hired more than 50 inspectors. Smokers breaking the rules face fines up to €500, and bar owners face fines up to €2,000.

As far as health minister Mr Avramopoulos is concerned, Greek "society is mature nowadays" and ready for the ban.

He boasts of a poll showing 80 per cent of Greeks and 60 per cent of smokers are in favour of the law.

"We are going to get there, as many European countries have already. Why do we always have to be lagging behind?" he said.