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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