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The Agora => Greek News => Topic started by: Maik on Thursday, 25 July, 2019 @ 20:54:47

Title: Smoking 'crackdown'
Post by: Maik on Thursday, 25 July, 2019 @ 20:54:47
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Crackdown on smoking to begin in public buildings

A pledge by the government to crack down on smoking in public places – finally enforcing a law that was introduced a decade ago – will initially focus on Greece’s Parliament building, followed by ministries, hospitals, schools and other places where social services are provided, officials decided on Wednesday.

Officials also decided to launch a campaign to boost public awareness of the dangers of both active and passive smoking as authorities plan to spread the crackdown from public services to public places – bars, restaurants and cafes – over the coming months.
http://www.ekathimerini.com/242951/article/ekathimerini/news/crackdown-on-smoking-to-begin-in-public-buildings
Title: Re: Smoking 'crackdown'
Post by: BeeTee on Thursday, 25 July, 2019 @ 22:12:04
OK, let's see how this works out :cig:
Title: Re: Smoking 'crackdown'
Post by: Maik on Friday, 26 July, 2019 @ 16:59:37
Indeed, it will seem a little strange to be examined by a doctor not holding a stethoscope in one hand and a cig in the other. Or seeing the local 'bobbie' temporarily exit the taverna for a cig after his meal.

What is Greece coming to?
Title: Re: Smoking 'crackdown'
Post by: Bryan-in-Kilkis on Saturday, 27 July, 2019 @ 15:17:40
I am not holding my breath (well, yes, I have been doing so for at least ten years, trying to avoid others' smoke)...  :oki:
Title: Re: Smoking 'crackdown'
Post by: HiFi on Saturday, 27 July, 2019 @ 16:15:43
I agree with the skepticism, but of course something has to finance a 20% ENFIA reduction....just saying.....  :schtum:
Title: Re: Smoking 'crackdown'
Post by: BeeTee on Monday, 05 August, 2019 @ 20:20:50
Tough fines for drivers that flout smoking rules

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Drivers of taxis, buses and other forms of public transport who smoke while on the job will be fined 1,500 euros and have their license revoked for a month, according to new traffic rules and a circular issued by the Health Ministry Monday.

At the same time, if there is a child under the age of 12 in the vehicle, the fine will rise to 3,000 euros.

Moreover, drivers of private vehicles who smoke while a youngster under the age of 12 is also in the vehicle will be fined 1,500 euros and have their license revoked.

They will be hit with the same penalty even if it is another passenger smoking in the vehicle.

http://www.ekathimerini.com/243311/article/ekathimerini/news/tough-fines-for-drivers-that-flout-smoking-rules
Title: Re: Smoking 'crackdown'
Post by: BeeTee on Monday, 12 August, 2019 @ 11:39:15
Smoking ban will work, says public health expert...
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Dr Panagiotis Behrakis, director of the Institute of Public Health at the American College of Greece, who is heading a council of experts steering the Greek government’s anti-smoking campaign, said he believes Greek society is ready for a full enforcement of the ban.

“When a newly elected prime minister, with an overwhelming majority, clearly prioritizes the issue and expresses strong will for the universal implementation of the law, there is no chance of losing. For the first time, I am optimistic. After all, the conditions have matured,” he told Kathimerini.

Behrakis says progress has already been made, with a change in mentality among the young, a reduction in the number of smokers, and implementations of the ban at private businesses. “However, public sector workers and senior officials continued to smoke at work,” he says.

“Top government officials should not be permitted to break the law without losing their positions. They have vowed to abide by the laws of the state, they are... responsible for the implementation of those provisions. If they violates them, they have no right to remain in the government.”

Behrakis said the smoking ban should be a topic of consensus, not dispute. “With the active input of all stakeholders, we will succeed in enforcing the law if they understand the following: We are not persecuting smokers; we are simply protecting non-smokers.”

He said inspections and fines are needed, but they will never replace the essence of the problem, which is mutual respect.

http://www.ekathimerini.com/243502/article/ekathimerini/news/smoking-ban-will-work-says-public-health-expert
Title: Re: Smoking 'crackdown'
Post by: Maik on Monday, 07 October, 2019 @ 22:21:41
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Greece's new leader plans to stub out smoking in enclosed public places
https://www.euronews.com/2019/10/07/greece-s-new-leader-plans-to-stub-out-smoking-in-enclosed-public-places

From what I can make out there's not much change so far. I gather there's a bill before the Vouli (parliament) that will - if passed - strengthen the existing laws. Trick is, of course, to get the laws accepted and/or enforced.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFOdGZdKdDI
https://youtu.be/XFOdGZdKdDI?t=1
Title: Re: Smoking 'crackdown'
Post by: Maik on Tuesday, 08 October, 2019 @ 23:27:44
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Hotline planned to report smoke ban flouters

People will be able to report violations of the smoking ban on a three-digit number, according to Health Minister Vassilis Kikilias, who reiterated the government’s intention to enforce the relevant law.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will unveil the government’s anti-smoking campaign at the end of the month.
http://www.ekathimerini.com/245301/article/ekathimerini/news/hotline-planned-to-report-smoke-ban-flouters
Title: Re: Smoking 'crackdown'
Post by: Maik on Tuesday, 15 October, 2019 @ 08:15:47
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Greece’s No Smoking Law Getting Tougher, Public Place Prohibition

It’s still not been reported whether an alleged crackdown on smoking to enforce ignored laws is having any effect, but the new New Democracy government is sending lawmakers a bill that would provide stricter penalties and get tougher on smoking in public places.

The measure will likely be voted on after debate on Oct. 15 and, if approved, will go into effect the next day but it’s unclear how it will be enforced either after the government wanted police to help  inspectors make sure the law is being followed but got resitance.

Authorities haven’t released any figures to indicate whether the vaunted crackdown is working or even taking place as there is anecdotal evidence showing people smoking at tables with no smoking signs in coffee shops and other places as well as post offices and public workplaces.
https://www.thenationalherald.com/264294/greeces-no-smoking-law-getting-tougher-public-place-prohibition/
Title: Re: Smoking 'crackdown'
Post by: Maik on Wednesday, 16 October, 2019 @ 15:22:36
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Fewer Greeks smoking, new survey finds

Greeks appear to be growing more aware of the risks of smoking, according to a study which found that the number of adults who smoke has declined from 40 percent to 27.5 percent in a decade.
http://www.ekathimerini.com/245547/article/ekathimerini/news/fewer-greeks-smoking-new-survey-finds
Title: Re: Smoking 'crackdown'
Post by: Maik on Wednesday, 16 October, 2019 @ 22:16:01
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Will Greece Finally Enforce Its Anti-Smoking Laws Now?

A majority of Greek lawmakers on Tuesday voted in favor of the new anti-smoking bill – the third such legislation passed in Greece in the last decade.

The new law includes stricter penalties and is tougher on those who smoke in public places.

Greece’s first bill banning smoking in public places passed way back in 2009, but was never enforced in reality. Greeks continued to smoke openly in public places – as some still do – and the initial efforts made to implement the ban were perfunctory and did not last long.

The new bill is a great deal tougher, with the government asking police to help inspectors enforce the law, but the measure has still met with resistance from police forces.

As of October 16, 2019, smoking is not only prohibited in all public indoor areas in Greece, but also in playgrounds and other open-air areas which are frequented by children. Additionally, smoking in a private vehicle with a child under 12 inside it is prohibited.

The smoking ban now applies to taxis, hospitals and other health care facilities, schools and universities, restaurants, coffee shops, live music venues, and nightclubs. The new legislation also bans smoking in sports arenas and open-air stadiums.
https://greece.greekreporter.com/2019/10/16/will-greece-finally-enforce-its-anti-smoking-laws-now/

 :cig:
Title: Re: Smoking 'crackdown'
Post by: Maik on Wednesday, 30 October, 2019 @ 15:10:04
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Inspectors intensify checks for smoking ban violations

Greek state officials launched intensified inspections on cafes and bars over the long weekend to determine whether a ban on smoking in public places is being observed.

Inspectors determined that 80 percent of businesses had “no smoking” signs on display and that the ban was enforced in most places.

In instances where the ban was being violated, offenders were given a warning, with inspectors to start issuing fines in the next round of checks.
http://www.ekathimerini.com/245932/article/ekathimerini/news/inspectors-intensify-checks-for-smoking-ban-violations
Title: Re: Smoking 'crackdown'
Post by: Maik on Sunday, 10 November, 2019 @ 11:27:33
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Greece to increase the fines for smoking in public places

The government of Greece is working toward increasing the fines people would have to pay when violating the new, wide-ranging anti-smoking laws.

According to the Greek Ministry of Health, the public smoking fines which were introduced in 2009 are currently too low in some cases. For this reason, the Greek government will publish a new list of increased fines by 19 November.  That will be the first day on which the new law will be officially enforced.
https://www.themayor.eu/en/greece-to-increase-the-fines-for-smoking-in-public-places
Title: Re: Smoking 'crackdown'
Post by: Maik on Sunday, 17 November, 2019 @ 17:55:39
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Fuming Greeks set to fight smoking ban till last gasp

Wedged within a honeycomb of shabby shops, the imposing Booze Cooperativa has long been a little-known attraction in central Athens. Now, however, crowds are lining up at its door.

The bohemian-style cafe and bar is home to Greece’s Smokers’ Rights Party. And as of tomorrow, when a sweeping tobacco ban comes into full effect, it might become the country’s only public building to allow smokers to light up indoors.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/world/fuming-greeks-set-to-fight-smoking-ban-till-last-gasp-8tfb7fm7d
Title: Re: Smoking 'crackdown'
Post by: Maik on Wednesday, 20 November, 2019 @ 02:14:24
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Prime Minister Mitsotakis Officially Presents New National Action Plan on Smoking

PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis presented a new, National Action Plan against smoking on Tuesday, a cornerstone of one of his main priorities, to completely change Greece’s historically loose approach to smoking in public places.

The new, tougher penalties (https://greece.greekreporter.com/2019/11/18/thinking-of-smoking-in-public-places-in-greece-better-think-again/) announced on Monday for those who ignore the ban are aimed at gradually but steadily altering Greece’s long-lasting tolerance of smoking, a habit which violates the basic, fundamental right of non-smokers and children to be able to breathe clean air.

Greek citizens can now officially report incidents of violations of the ban by a simple telephone call to the number 1142.
https://greece.greekreporter.com/2019/11/19/prime-minister-mitsotakis-officially-presents-new-national-action-plan-on-smoking/
Title: Re: Smoking 'crackdown'
Post by: Maik on Friday, 22 November, 2019 @ 03:03:28
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Hundreds call smoking ban hotline on first day

A hotline set up for citizens to report violations of the smoking ban in public spaces received hundreds of calls in its first day of operation, it was revealed on Wednesday. Out of the 235 calls received by the Health Ministry’s 1142 hotline, 66 were by citizens asking for information on the law, 58 were reports of violations and 22 were people asking for help to quit smoking.

The first fines were imposed in the town of Lamia in central Greece on Wednesday, where a cafe owner and a customer were ordered to pay 500 and 100 euros respectively.
http://www.ekathimerini.com/246683/article/ekathimerini/news/hundreds-call-smoking-ban-hotline-on-first-day
Title: Re: Smoking 'crackdown'
Post by: Maik on Friday, 22 November, 2019 @ 08:25:37
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjSxCuaANPM
https://youtu.be/RjSxCuaANPM?t=1
Title: Re: Smoking 'crackdown'
Post by: Maik on Tuesday, 03 December, 2019 @ 22:05:35
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”Smirting”: The New Outdoors Flirting Skill Greeks Adopt After Smoking Ban

As surprising as it may sound, the recently reinforced universal smoking ban in Greece’s public places has been strictly enforced and thousands of Greek smokers seem to be abiding by the new law.

This new — for Greek society, at least — reality has brought to the country a trend that was originally spotted in other nations which enforced smoking bans years ago.

Its unlikely name is ”smirting.”
https://greece.greekreporter.com/2019/12/03/smirting-the-new-outdoors-flirting-skill-greeks-adopt-after-smoking-ban/

 :luv:
Title: Re: Smoking 'crackdown'
Post by: Maik on Wednesday, 04 December, 2019 @ 03:13:29
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Smoking is strictly forbidden in Greece, yeah right!

We sat near the window, under a large banner that said: SMOKING IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN (ΑΠΑΓΟΡΕΥΕΤΑΙ ΑΥΣΤΗΡΑ ΤΟ ΚΑΠΝΙΣΜΑ).

The establishment, from what we could tell, was a family business.

We ordered our food and waited.

In a little while, the kitchen door opened and the chef came out.

He held a large pan with both his hands. He was taking it to the bain marie. From his mouth hung a cigarette. The ashes were about to fall in the pan.

Soon after, a fire truck pulled up at the parking lot of the restaurant.

Two firemen entered the establishment.

They headed to the cash register. The young man offered them a cigarette and all three of them started smoking and chatting.

I looked at my acquaintances, and I looked at the sign that said SMOKING IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN.

I shook my head.

Oh, eternal Greece!!!
https://neoskosmos.com/en/153071/smoking-is-strictly-forbidden-in-greece-yeah-right/

 :)