Greek bars and restaurants defy smoking ban

Oct 19, 2010, 12:54 GMT

Athens - Bars and restaurants across Greece openly defied a nationwide smoking ban by putting ashtrays back on their tables Tuesday.

Greece, home to Europe's largest percentage of smokers, imposed its third and toughest ban on smoking in enclosed public places at the start of October.

But the Federation of Restaurants and Bars (POESE), which has 152 affiliated unions representing 121,000 businesses, decided to take drastic action against the ban, saying it is driving customers away when business is already down because of the economic crisis.

Yiannis Tsakos, president of POESE, told Flash Radio that the federation is not against the smoking ban itself but strongly opposes its timing due to the economic crisis.

'The timing is all wrong ... for the past two weeks we have tried to implement the law but saw a drastic fall in business because smokers are refusing to dine and drink in restaurants and bars.'

He claims the smoking ban has led to a drop of about 30 percent in turnover at bars, cafes and restaurants that cannot offer customers the option of sitting outside to smoke.

In an act of defiance, establishments in Athens and in the northern port city of Thessaloniki have put ashtrays back on tables and bars, allowing customers to light up despite threats of fines and revoking of licenses.

'Since we are going to go out of business anyway as a result of the crisis, let the state come along and shut us down because we are not following the law,' Tsakos said.

Under the new law, smoking is banned in all indoor public venues, with the exception of casinos and bars larger than 300 square metres, which have a nine-month extension. The law also puts new restrictions on tobacco advertising.

Smokers who break the law are liable to fines ranging from 50 to 500 euros (70 to 705 dollars). The owners of the establishments risk tougher penalties of 500 to 10,000 euros, with repeat offenders risking the revocation of their licences.

Since the start of the month, 3,000 checks have been carried out in Athens, leading to 20 fines.

The new law is already having a heavy impact on a nation where nearly 45 per cent of the adult population smokes, and where smoking in offices and cafes is seen as a traditional pastime.

The government, however, has insisted that after two failed attempts in the past, it will not repeal or change the law.

'It is not right...it is a Third World action to change the law before it has even been applied or its weaknesses have become obvious,' Loverdos added.

Last year's ban was largely ignored because of exemptions for small bars and restaurants, as well as a failure to punish offenders who routinely lit up cigarettes in larger bars, in taxis or at work.

The health ministry has said the new law is aimed at saving the lives of an estimated 20,000 people who die every year from smoking in Greece, costing the country an annual 2.14 billion euros.

A 2007 survey found the number of smokers in Greece had risen 10 per cent in a decade while other developed nations were kicking the habit.

Britain, Ireland, France, Germany and other EU states have already introduced public smoking bans.

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