[Intl-tobacco] Greece joins the West in anti-smoking measures

[Robert Weissman]

Greece joins the West in anti-smoking measures
Source: Cyprus Mail, 2002-05-31, via tobacco.org
URL: http://www.hri.org/news/greek/ana/2002/02-05-31.ana.html

Athens, 31/05/2002 (ANA)

Greece will follow the example set by the United States and many
European countries in enacting a series of nine measures against
smoking and for the protection of non-smokers, Health Minister
Alekos Papadopoulos said on Thursday.

Announcing the measures at a press conference one day before the
international day against smoking, he said that measures will carry
penalties of up to three months imprisonment and steep cash fines.

The measures include the total ban on cigarette advertising,
beginning from Jan. 1st, which includes a ban on commercials in
movie theaters as well, while restaurants and coffee shops will
have to create non-smoking sections.

The non-smoking section system will not apply to bars and
nightclubs that are open only during the evening and late night
hours and it will not apply to the traditional type of Greek
coffeehouses.

The minister stressed that the new measures include provisions for
the strict enforcement of the cigarette smoking ban in enclosed
public areas where people have to stay for long periods of time,
such as bus stations, railway stations, airports etc., although the
establishment of smoking areas in those places is mandated.

He added that the smoking ban in hospitals, clinics and in all
places providing healthcare services will be strictly enforced, as
it will be in public transport systems, including taxis.

The education ministry, in cooperation with the health ministry,
will undertake a campaign to inform students of the dangers of
smoking, aiming to create smoke free schools, while the measures
include a mandate banning smoking in school grounds, with the
parallel establishment of smoking spaces for teachers who smoke.

Also, the measures include the initiation of a health ministry
campaign aiming to alert smokers on the dangers of smoking and to
make them more sensitive to those who do not smoke.

The minister stressed that for the success of the measures the
ministry's efforts include the upgrading of outpatient clinics of
hospitals that aid smokers to reject the habit, while the ministry,
along with the National Radio and Television Council, will work
toward stopping indirect tobacco advertising in every radio and
television broadcast.

During the presentation of the measures, Papadopoulos said the
enforcement of the measures in the public service sector will be
the responsibility of the managers and supervisors of each
service.

The minister underlined that the measures aim at protecting
citizens whether they smoke or not, to alleviate the cost of
smoking for the healthcare system of the country and to avert the
creation of a new generation of smokers.