Smoking in Public Places is Banned in Greece

by Savitha.C.Muppala on  September 02, 2010 at 1:59 PM General Health News
  •   Print
  •   Share
  •   Comments
  •  Text 
 Smoking in Public Places is Banned in Greece
Greek smokers will now need to stop the habit of smoking in public places following the recent legislation on smoking in Europe's most nicotine-addicted nation.

Under the slogan "Stub out your cigarettes, add to your life," the controversial legislation adopted in July 2009 but so far unenforced bans smoking in all public spaces except casinos and large music halls which have a nine-month extension to June.

Violaters faces fines from 50 to 500 euros (64 to 640 dollars) while business operators risk tougher penalties of 500 to 10,000 euros and repeat offenders could have their licenses revoked.

This time the government says it will enforce the measure which Prime Minister Georges Papandreou said would "contribute to our goals ... of making the country more viable, not only economically but in daily life."

However Health Minister Mariliza Xenoyannakopoulou said smokers would have a one-month grace period during which they will not face punishment for breaking the new law.

"This is matter of public health, not a witch-hunt," the minister said.

However restaurant and cafe owners have threatened to ignore the new legislation which they said was a threat to trade.

"There is no way I'm turning away customers, I need them more than ever," Yiannis Tsakos, the general secretary of the association of restaurants and entertainment establishments, told state television NET.

Forty percent of Greeks are smokers and go through an average of eight cigarettes per day, Ta Nea daily reported on Monday.

Source-AFP

 Email Email   RSS Feeds RSS Feeds   Print this page Print   Save this page Save   Link Link   Syndicate Syndicate   Comments Comments   Bookmark and Share
 
Comment & Contribute
Comments should be on the topic and should not be abusive. Comments are normally moderated and are reviewed after they are posted.
* Your comment can be maximum of 2500 characters

Notify me when reply is posted
I agree to the terms and conditions
  
If you have a question about health related issues, you can now post it in our Ask An Expert section on our community website Medwonders.com and get answers from our panel of experts.
X

Medwonders Health Network

  • Health News Index
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
News Archive
Date :
Category :
Keyword :
Quiz on Smoking
What are the smoking facts? Read about the effects of smoking by participating in the quiz.
  • News Quick Links
News Central Health Watch
Latest Health News Health In Focus
News Category (500+) Breaking Health News
Popular News Celebrating Life
Health News and Press Release Medindia - Exclusive
News Photo Gallery India Special
News Video Gallery Lifestyle and Wellness
News From Other Resources
Smoking
Complete Medindia Resources
News Categories:  
Diabetes Health Center

General News

» Research on Neglected Diseases to Take Priority Place for WHO » Medical Innovation: Hypodermic Needles for Injection Could Soon be History
» Written Communication Contains Higher Frequency of Positive Words » Canadian Research Urges US and Europe to Implement New System for Regulating Probiotics
» To Err Appeals Cruder Judgment for Male Bosses Than Women » Emotionally Intelligent Easily Conned
» Ukraine Passes Law To Ban Smoking in Public Places » Eating 'Bushmeat' Could Lead to Next HIV Pandemic
Read More >>