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Smoking bans extended to more parks in Chicago suburbs  

The steady march to rid parks and playgrounds of cigarette butts spread to Zion this summer after a group of students surveyed residents and then pushed the Park District to enact the ban that most supported.

The 752 acres of parkland went smoke-free in mid-June, although the ban ends at the fairways of the two golf courses and carries no penalties.

Park District officials are betting smokers will heed the signs and police themselves.

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Greeks, Europe’s Heaviest Smokers, Try New Ban on Smoking 

As of today, smoking is banned in all indoor public areas in Greece, including airports, taxis and buses. Cafes, restaurants and bars in establishments of less than 70 square meters must opt to be either smoking or non-smoking venues, while larger establishments must provide restricted ventilated smoking areas.

“Despite all the preparation, the information, the talks, this is the hard part,” Dimitris Avramopoulos, the health minister, told reporters on June 25. “We will show -- demolishing a myth that exists in Greece -- that the country can adopt laws that are applied and applied by all.”

Greece has been passing laws to restrict smoking since 1856 and most recently in 2002. Still, 42 percent of Greeks are smokers, the highest rate in the European Union, partly because laws aren’t applied. Avramopoulos has announced a squad of inspectors to enforce the rules; smokers breaking the laws face fines of up to 500 euros, while proprietors may pay as much as 2,000 euros.

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Greece's third try at smoking ban gets underway 

Greece introduced a ban on smoking in public places on Wednesday - its third attempt in a decade to stamp out the habit in the country considered one of the last bastions of smoking in the European Union.

Anyone caught lighting up will now be subject to a 1,000 euros (1,400 dollars) fine, whilst establishments that do not comply with the new regulations risk losing licences.

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

But, considering Greece's patchy track record for implementing new laws, there seems to be no guarantee the new law, with allows for some loopholes and is unpopular with the public, will succeed.

Similar laws introduced in 2002 and 2003 went largely unheeded in a country where nearly 45 per cent of adults smoke and where puffing on cigarettes in offices and cafes is seen as a traditional pastime.

'In Greece we are used to saying that laws are passed but not enforced,' Health Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos said.

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Athens Newspaper Headlines 



 ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Greece without cigarettes! Prohibition of smoking in enclosed spaces, public services, etc. as of today (Wednesday, July 1)".




 ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "The smoke lights fires - General ban until the public spaces, companies and shops adapt".

 


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Smoking controls come into effect 

Cafes and restaurants yesterday scrambled to prepare for the introduction of European Union-dictated smoking restrictions as the Health Ministry issued the official decision explaining their obligations at the eleventh hour.

The ministry circulated the text of the decision to all municipal and prefectural authorities which have been deluged with queries from owners of bars and nightspots unclear about the changes they need to make to their premises. Ministry officials also announced the creation of a team of inspectors whose responsibility it will be to patrol bars and restaurants and determine whether the new smoking restrictions are being adhered to or not.

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Heavy-smoking Greece tries to kick the habit with ban 

Greeks were banned from smoking at work and inside bars and restaurants on Wednesday, but many question how the measure will work in Europe's heaviest smoking nation.

Terraces in central Athens filled up with smoking clients as tobacco is still allowed outside, and there was confusion over how the law will be applied indoors.

More than 3,000 bloggers joined an anti-ban Facebook group. "Guys don't worry, even police officers smoke here, no one will follow this law," one message said ">here

But Health Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos said the ban will work, contrary to past failed attempts. "Today Greece turns the page," he told Greek media.

"It's the first time that this measure will be implemented, to end the myth that we make laws that we don't respect."

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Greece acts to stub out smoking 

Greece has introduced a ban on smoking in hospitals, schools, vehicles and all public places.

Those who break the new law face fines of up to 500 euros (£428), and businesses risk losing licences after several offences.

Greece is the EU's heaviest-smoking nation - 40% of the population smokes.

But defying the authorities is a national sport and there is no guarantee the ban will succeed, a BBC correspondent in Athens says.

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St. Louis weighs smoking ban  

A controversial proposal to ban smoking in the city has attracted some unlikely combatants on both sides of the debate.

The American Cancer Society, an agency that preaches the dangers of smoking, opposes the bill, saying it is not strong enough. But among the bill's supporters are restaurateur Kim Tucci of the Pasta House Co. and entrepreneur Joe Edwards, who helped extend the Delmar Loop into St. Louis with the Pageant, Pin-Up Bowl and the Moonrise Hotel.

Edwards said he sees the smoke-filled days of clubs and bowling alleys giving way to younger crowds focused on health. Tucci said his restaurants went smoke-free about six years ago at the urging of customers, and it has not hurt his business.

The comments came Tuesday as city leaders considered a bill that would ban smoking in all restaurants and bars. A second day of hearings on the subject is scheduled for today at City Hall.

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• Isle Of Wight Tells Smokers To Butt Out 

The Isle of Wight is turning into a smoke-free zone for the day, becoming the first island in the UK to try to stamp out the scorned cigarette.

An arm stubs out a cigarette on the Isle of Wight's Needles

The move is to mark the second anniversary of the nationwide smoking ban in public buildings.

The Isle of Wight hopes it might lead to other UK cities doing the same and maybe even help create a smoke-free British Isles.

"We are delighted to lend our support to this campaign," said the IoW's assistant tourism director John Metcalfe.

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O'HARA: The big fat Greek smoking ban scam 

But reality is different: many Greeks will have smoked since their teens. They might hate the habit but they can’t kick it. For now, the climate is on their side because until October few Greeks will be indoors. Drive along the motorways and from the front seats arms loll out windows with cigarettes between nicotine-stained hands while kids play on the back seats. Look at the hospital balconies and nurses chat to patients on drips while they both light up.

Unlike many places, smoking is still socially acceptable. If you want to make friends here, the best way is to offer someone a fag. Last week at a formal dinner the man next to me, without asking, lit a large cigarillo in the middle of the main course. The woman next to him was about six months pregnant. He was a charming man, educated. He saw the disapproving scowl on my face.

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” he said with an apologetic smile, “How rude of me…” and leaning over the table he opened the packet towards me, “Would you like one?”

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• A heavier cost to lighting up  

Of all the impediments thrown at smokers over the years, the one that arrives today could have one of the biggest impacts.

Florida's cigarette tax, long among the nation's lowest, in keeping with its Southern neighbors, is rising by $1 per pack.

Combined with a 62-cent-per-pack federal increase that took effect just 12 weeks ago, cigarettes in Florida are now pushing $6 per pack -- a price that is proving persuasive even to longtime smokers.

"I think the government is putting a real burden on the backs of smokers," Gerry Nodeen, who started smoking in the 1970s, said Tuesday outside a Sarasota smoke shop. "I'll probably think about quitting instead of paying the extra money."

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Greece fires up anti-smoking ban amid confusion 

Wielding high fines, Greece's health ministry on Wednesday launched a nationwide smoking ban -- the third this decade -- in a bid to eliminate the habit in Europe's most nicotine-addicted nation.

As a 2008 law banning smoking in public places officially came into effect, Health Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos proudly spoke of a "new era".

"The curtain has risen on a new era, as of today establishments are smoke-free and nobody will smoke anywhere," he told state television NET.

"In the end, we will join the ranks of civilised nations," he said. "What are we, the idiots of Europe?".

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In the end, we will join the ranks of civilised nations. What are we, the idiots of Europe?
Health Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos, on Greece's smoking ban.

• In pictures: Greece smoking ban 

However, following a last-minute amendment to the law, thousands of restaurants and bars over 70 sq m (750 sq ft) will be able to build sealed-off smoking areas, as long as they remain "totally separate".

And smaller restaurants, like this one, can choose to ban non-smokers instead.

Smoking has long been ingrained in Greek culture. Actress, singer and later Greek Culture Minister Melina Mercouri was often pictured with a cigarette.

Aristotle Onassis, pictured here with Maria Callas, was also a famous smoker.

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Lawmakers Pass Another Tobacco Tax 

After years of not raising taxes on cigarettes, yesterday Mississippi lawmakers approved the second cigarette tax hike this year. Even more surprising, Gov. Haley Barbour, a former tobacco lobbyist who vetoed raising the state's excise taxes numerous times in the past, said he would sign the bill into law.

After a long battle over the details, the Legislature pushed through this year's first cigarette tax increase in May, adding 50 cents to every pack of smokes sold in the state. It was the first such increase since 1985. Now, this second tax adds 25 cents to any cigarettes manufactured by companies that were not part of Mississippi's 1997 lawsuit against big tobacco, reports the Hattiesburg American.

Top lawmakers said the tax of 25 cents on cheaper cigarettes will generate about $8.8 million a year.

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Zimbabwe exports 22 million kg Virginia tobacco  

Zimbabwe has so far exported a total of 22.1 million kilograms of Virginia tobacco valued at about 66 million U.S. dollars to various destinations in the first five months of this year, according to The Herald on Tuesday.

However, this is a decrease from the 38.5 million kg worth 115.5 million dollars from the amount of tobacco that was exported during the same period last year.

This is attributed to challenges such as pricing and poor deliveries that haunted the sector last year.

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