The new smoking ban in Greece comes into effect in just a few weeks, on July 1st. How will Greece, the country with the heaviest smokers in Europe, cope?
The Greek government originally passed the no smoking law to take effect from January 2010, but then moved the start date forward in order to 'ease' the population into this new smoke-free world. In summer everyone lives, eats and drinks outdoors, so a July ban will have little effect on the social habits of Greece's smokers.
It's also now apparent that this will not be a total ban. Wording in the press include phrases such as 'new smoking limits', 'severe restrictions on smoking in public places'.
So what's the real deal?
Bar and restaurant employers must create separate smoking sections. The Health Ministry’s legal spokesman, Polykarpos Adamidis, says these smoking sections should account for between 20 percent and 40 percent of the premises, unless the establishment is smaller than 70 square meters, in which case the bar or restaurant owner must decide whether to declare the establishment exclusively smoking or nonsmoking.
It's not the first time Greece has imposed restrictions on smoking, but many are hoping that this time the restrictions will be more successful. The real test will come in the autumn when the population moves back indoors.
Thursday, 28 May 2009
Greece Smoking Ban
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4 comments:
Ok now the deadline has passed, and here in Chania there *are* some noticeable differences. A few well-known restaurants are now non-smoking inside. I'm not sure but it appears that the shop keepers in Halidon Str are no longer chain smoking inside (which had caused me to not shop there previously).
HOWEVER people are trying to take advantage Greek-style over the alleged confusion concerning the "separate" yes-smoking areas in otherwise no-smoking-allowed establishments. EXAMPLES: (1) while (miracle!) no-one is smoking in the KTEL bus station waiting area, the adjoining cafeteria, which is not separate in any sense, is FULL of smoke from card players. They think this is a "separate" area! Smoke just flows out into the waiting area. (2) Some shop keepers whose shop opens fully onto the footpath believe they are "open" are are thus exempt. This has to be wrong.
The Government needs to act swiftly to issue fines for these types of infractions, especially before winter sets in.
obviously you are a non smoker!!!!!
Well, it's now Feb 2nd 20010 and trying to find a bar that is non smoking is almost impossible.
i dont have a problem if people wish to smokein a seperate area, and indeed some cafes have in fact implimented this, but the majority have not. Koym kapi is now only for summer usage if you dont want to pssive smoke.
On a trip to a well known cafe near the technical university i saw it peopled with a large percentage of pregnant women and families taking advantage of the non smoking section.
The police just are not interested maybe because the majority are smokers who like to indulge when they go out.The idea of a team actually going out to fine and make bars enforce this legislation is laughable.
All sympematic of the mental attitude here to both legal and tax reforms.
As the months have passed it seems that bars cafes and restaurants have become more and more lax regarding the smoking ban, even those who first imposed it.
Two examples in Chania: the large Mega Place Bowling complex became completely non smoking indoors at the start of the ban in July. By December all the cafe areas on both floors became smoking areas again. The reason, according to the owners, is that they were losing a lot of custom, and as few other establishments were sticking to the ban they decided to remove theirs.
Another example is one of the large cafes at Profit Ilias (near the technical University as mentioned by 'Anonymous' above. One of the tree large cafes there became completely no smoking at the start of the ban but has now reverted to allowing smoking.
An article in ekathimerini today “Smoking ban not working' www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_1_05/02/2010_114655]
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