Most Greeks flouting new smoking ban: minister

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Most Greeks violate a new ban on smoking in indoor public places, the health ministry said, in another sign of the difficulty of making Europe’s heaviest smokers kick the habit.

The new Socialist government hoped fines would work after a partial ban in 2009 was largely ignored, but smokers still routinely light up a cigarette in bars, restaurants and taxis.

“Everywhere, I mean in eight out of ten cases, the ban is being violated - and this is really bad for the state,” Health Minister Andreas Loverdos told lawmakers late on Wednesday after undercover inspectors went to check on bars and restaurants.

About 40 percent of Greece’s 11 million population smoke.

Bars and restaurants were given one month, until Oct. 1, to comply with the Sept. 1 ban on smoking in indoor public places.

Inspectors can impose up to 10,000 euros ($13,990) in fines on bar-owners tolerating smoking and up to 500 euros for smokers who break the law.

The government has also increased the tax on tobacco in a revenue-raising measure under a fiscal austerity plan mandated by an EU/IMF bailout to ease Greece’s sovereign debt crisis.

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ATHENS (Reuters)

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