From 1 July, a new smoking ban comes into effect in Greece – a country in which 42% of the population smoke (the highest proportion in Europe). It follows two earlier attempts to limit smoking (which were largely ignored), and includes a ban on smoking in hospitals, schools, vehicles and all public spaces, and bans tobacco advertising.
The Greek health minister claims that the new law will be ‘applied strictly without yielding to any sort of pressure’, but already there are loopholes appearing – just last week, some last-minute exemptions were made, with companies with more than 50 employees now permitted to set up dedicated smoking areas on their premises, and cafes and bars with premises over 750 square feet will be allowed to have small, ‘totally separate’ smoking areas.
In New South Wales, Australia, much tougher laws are coming into force. From 1 July motorists who are caught smoking in their cars with passengers aged under 16 can be issued with an Aus$250 on-the-spot fine. Cigarette vending machines are now restricted to licensed premises, retailers who sell tobacco to children may be prevented from selling tobacco in the future, and tobacco companies are banned from sponsoring sporting events. In addition, the law on tobacco display in shops is changing, to require retailers to keep all tobacco products out of sight. Shops with more than 50 employees now have six months to implement the ban on tobacco being displayed, and those who employ fewer than 50 people have a year in which to comply. Where shops generate 80 per cent of their turnover from tobacco-related sales, they have 12 months to register as a specialist business, and will then have a further three years to comply with the ban.
Sources: Sydney Morning Herald, 5 April 2009; AFP, 30 June 2009.