- Title: GREECE: Mixed reactions to start of complete smoking ban
- Date: 2nd September 2010
- Summary: ATHENS, GREECE (SEPTEMBER 1 2010) (REUTERS) PEOPLE SITTING AT TABLES IN OPEN SPACE IN FRONT OF RESTAURANT MAN WITH CIGARETTE IN HIS HAND WOMAN WITH CIGARETTE IN HER HAND MAN PUFFING ON CIGARETTE NON SMOKERS SITTING AT TABLE TOGETHER SOUNDBITE (Greek) EX-SMOKER THANASIS PANDAS, A SENIOR CITIZEN, SAYING: "I go to a restaurant to eat and the man next to me is blowing his cigar smoke as I eat, without any respect for me. Why? He should go find somewhere else if he wants to eat and smoke." INTERIOR OF SAME RESTAURANT, SUPERVISOR BEHIND BAR SOUNDBITE (Greek) MANAGER ANDREAS MICHAELIDIS SAYING "The truth is, it is difficult for Greeks to follow the law, we all know that, but I believe from the moment the law is the law, and there will be fines, and with fines there is no way of avoiding them, it will work." PEOPLE SITTING AT OUTSIDE TABLES OF CAFE SMOKING MAN SMOKING SOUNDBITE (Greek) SMOKER GEORGE KLIOTIS, 37, A COMPANY EMPLOYEE SAYING "I support the measure but not like this, this law is too much like a dictatorship, I find it racist that no places exist to smoke, where will we go to smoke?" MAN SMOKING SOUNDBITE (Greek) BISTRO MANAGER EVGENIOS APOSTOLIDIS SAYING: "Some establishments will lose business in the winter. In the summer there is no problem, right now there is no problem, but as winter sets in, I don't know how willing smokers will be to have to keep going outside to smoke." ATHENS, GREECE (AUGUST 30, 2010) (REUTERS) NEWS CONFERENCE BY HEALTH MINISTER MARILIZA XENOGIANAKOPOULOU SOUNDBITE (Greek) HEALTH MINISTER MARILIZA XENOGIANAKOPOULOU SAYING: "This is truly a big challenge. I believe we have taken every step, made every preparation, in order to implement the law without any problems. And I also truly believe the moment has come where the Greek community is ready for this." NEWS CONFERENCE SOUNDBITE (Greek) PROFESSOR PAPAGIOTIS BEHRAKIS, DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR TOBACCO CONTROL SAYING "The necessity of this legislation is drawn from the truly poor record our country has concerning smoking. In other words, we are first in terms of the number of smokers on an international level. We are first in Europe for passive smoking, and we are first in terms of the annual cigarette consumption per person in Europe." NEWS CONFERENCE ATHENS, GREECE (SEPTEMBER 1, 2010) (REUTERS) NO SMOKING SIGN POSTED IN RESTAURANT ENTRANCE NO SMOKING SIGN MORE OF ENTRANCE WITH NO SMOKING SIGN
- Embargoed: 17th September 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Greece
- Country: Greece
- Topics: Health,Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA1891GGGSCQL6W5O25T5PYZEMB
- Story Text: Greeks on Wednesday (September 1) both welcomed and criticized a comprehensive countrywide ban on public smoking indoors that took effect, in a country with some of the heaviest smokers in Europe.
The second ban is farther reaching than the first ban introduced last year, which was often abused or ignored, as Greeks enjoy their tobacco and businesses do not want to lose customers.
The first smoking ban came into effect in July 2009, but with exceptions. Businesses below 70 square metres were exempt, while those larger than 70 square metres were required to have clearly segregated smoking and non-smoking sections. Offices with more than 50 staff were also allowed smoking rooms.
This time the law completely prohibits outright smoking inside all public buildings. Casinos and night clubs with live music, where the heaviest smokers can be found, will be given a ten month grace period to enforce the law.
Fines range from 50 to 500 euros for smokers caught, while businesses face fines from 500 to 10,000 euros. Businesses with repeated violations will have their operating licenses temporarily or permanently revoked. Tobacco advertising is also banned.
Non-smokers hailed the ban, saying they have had to constantly suffer from passive smoke.
"I go to a restaurant to eat and the man next to me is blowing his cigar smoke as I eat, without any respect for me. Why? He should go find somewhere else if he wants to eat and smoke." said pensioner Thanasis Pandas, an ex-smoker who quitt two years ago.
Many cafes, restaurants and bars have the luxury of outside terraces or courtyards, which will aid in enforcing the law without losing customers. Some businesses were comfortable with the new ban, saying since they were governed by law and the fines will be heavy, they would conform, even if Greeks complained.
"The truth is, it is difficult for Greeks to follow the law, we all know that, but I believe from the moment the law is the law, and there will be fines, and with fines there is no way of avoiding them, it will work," said restaurant manager Andreas Michaelidis.
But as one smoker said, it wasn't fair that smokers now have no space allocated for them at all.
"I support the measure but not like this, this law is too much like a dictatorship, I find it racist that no places exist to smoke, where will be go to smoke?" asked 37 - year old George Kliotis.
Businesses have complained they have lost clientele since introducing the 2009 smoking measures, and the latest ban comes at a time when they are facing a drop in customers due to Greece's debt crisis. The concern is over what will happen in the winter, when customers will not want to sit outside.
"Some establishments will lose business in the winter. In the summer there is no problem, right now there is no problem, but as winter sets in, I don't know how willing smokers will be to have to keep going outside to smoke," said Evgenios Apostolidis, whose bistro has a large terrace where he plans to set up heaters in the winter to accommodate those sitting outside.
Close to 50 percent of the population smokes, with Greeks amongst the heaviest smokers in the European Union. Greeks have said they are happy to avoid smoking at restaurants, but enjoy smoking with their coffee or alcoholic drinks.
But Health Minister Mariliza Xenogianakopoulou said although it wasn't going to be easy to enforce the law, she believed Greeks were ready to kick the habit.
"This is truly a big challenge. I believe we have taken every step, made every preparation, in order to implement the law without any problems. And I also truly believe the moment has come where Greek society is ready for this," she told reporters during a news conference to outline the law.
"The necessity of this legislation is drawn from the truly poor record our country has concerning smoking. In other words, we are first in terms of the number of smokers on an international level. We are first in Europe for passive smoking, and we are first in terms of the annual cigarette consumption per person in Europe," said professor Panagiotis Behrakis, head of a national committee for tobacco control in the country.
The Health Minister also said the law would be strictly enforced this time around, with inspectors carrying out checks.
Tobacco prices rose in 2009, and were taxed in 2010 under the government's economic reform program, bringing the price of a pack to 3.80 euros - still relatively cheap for European standards. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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