Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2009 18:19:44 GMT 2
The following news article was taken from the Greek/English online newspaper, "The Kathimerini", on Wednesday 29th April 2009. This looks like the definitive response to the smoking campaign within Greece, with particular reference to Restaurants and Tavernas. It looks like the under 70 square metre premises have to make a decision to be smoking or non smoking completely, where as those over, will have to provide a smoking area.
Yeiamas, Chris
Anti Smoking Campaign begins
Health Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos yesterday launched a six-month campaign to promote the enforcement of severe restrictions on smoking in public places from July 1, as a new study showed that six in 10 Greek smokers back the planned measures.
«With the drafting of a national action plan against smoking, our country has acquired a targeted and strategic policy for the promotion and safeguarding of public health,» Avramopoulos told a conference.
The minister stressed that the new restrictions would be enforced strictly but also appealed to citizens to contribute to efforts aimed at bringing Greece into line with European Union standards on curbing the risks posed by passive smoking. He noted that 20,000 Greeks die of smoking-related diseases every year, adding that the habit costs the National Health System 2.14 billion euros annually.
The law, scheduled to come into effect on July 1, dictates that all offices and other public places, including bars and restaurants, must set aside designated areas for smokers. Restrictions on smoking have been adopted in many offices already. The bill also aims to keep minors from smoking, and from consuming alcohol, by banning their access to bars and clubs and imposing large fines on the managers of establishments that fail to respect these restrictions.
The country's bars and restaurants will be the hardest hit by the measures. Those whose premises are smaller than 70 square meters will have to choose whether to be characterized as exclusively smoking or nonsmoking establishments.
According to a new study carried out by Kapa Research on behalf of the Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, 62 percent of Greek smokers welcome the planned measures, with one in 10 saying the initiative provides them with an incentive to kick the habit and four in 10 saying they plan to cut down. The study also suggests that the law will have an impact on the business of bars and restaurants as a third (34 percent) of smokers say they will visit them less often because of the new measures. Exactly the same proportion of nonsmokers questioned said they would visit bars and restaurants more often thanks to the smoking restrictions.
|
|
|
Post by artisans on Apr 29, 2009 18:42:38 GMT 2
The bill also aims to keep minors from smoking, and from consuming alcohol, by banning their access to bars and clubs. Thanks for this Chris.
We did ask about the above restrictions only to be told that this had actually been Law for the last 3 years! The only person who knew about it was from Athens, though!
Julie
|
|
|
Post by jeanp on Apr 29, 2009 19:28:19 GMT 2
[/quote]
That remains to be seen.........it was said here in the UK......but where are they all? Several pubs are closing every week and the smoking ban has definitely got a 'lot' to do with it.
(By the way, I am a non-smoker)
|
|
pete sant
Roda Anorak
Roda Riddler 2008
UNITED - NOT ARROGANT - JUST BETTER
Posts: 6,977
|
Post by pete sant on Apr 29, 2009 20:32:35 GMT 2
I kept out of this one last time around but can't help myself this time. When the smoking ban came in in the u.k. the british press heralded it as "The rebirth of the british pub" - what a joke ! In the town where i live 2 pubs have closed, 3 are up for sale (with no takers) and some no longer open during the day time and on certain evenings, with one only opening it's doors on friday & saturday nights. When speaking to some of the landlords , everyone of them said that the smoking ban was at least 75% to blame. With the downturn in tourism this can not help boost the number of people going into the bars in Roda - it may well end up like Acharavi - busy in the daytime , then like a ghost town at night with people spending their money in the supermarkets on cans & bottles and staying in their apartments. Many non-smokers over here said to me "it's going to be great" only for them never to set foot in their local since. Rant over. pete.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2009 0:39:08 GMT 2
I totally support you Pete on the UK issue of the Smoking Ban in public places, and yes this was a government issue where they did not give time for Pubs, Clubs, Restaurants to segregate a room, or add on a room with the appropriate air filters, or offere any support in doing so. It was only when they finally saw the number of pubs and clubs closing that they agreed on some local support for outside sheltered areas. Which in my opinion is worse. To see groups of people outside of a pub or club smoking is not only downgrading on the area, but on those people as well, not being allowed the rights to smoke in the same comforts (Yes, I am a non smoker).
At least in the Greek legislation they have given some perspective on this matter by (1) offering the option of a smaller unit to be smoking or non smoking, (2) thus allowing the over 70m2 units to have the chance to build a segregated area for smokers. Of course in such places as Corfu they have the already established advantage of the better weather.
Thus on this policy alone, I think the campaign will work, but no doubt it will be the British/Tourists who will complain as usual, but not Rodafiles. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Yeiamas, Chris
|
|
|
Post by lisydaly on Apr 30, 2009 9:36:59 GMT 2
I am a smoker and enjoy a ciggie after a meal - and this is where the problem starts. A group of friends enjoy a meal inside a restaurant and then one or two have to go and lurk outside for a smoke if they want one. As a woman I find this degrading - it makes women look like ladies of the night advertising their wares!! Conversations are split as people keep getting up and going out for a smoke leaving the others inside. No matter what the Irish government says, it has destroyed the pub trade here. Apart from that there is nothing which looks more disgusting than a pile of cig stumps and ash outside the door of a pub (or the smell inside some pubs which smoke used to cover up). On a lighter note, there is a bar in our local town which has made a beautiful smoking conservatory in the garden at the back - comfy chairs, heating, a nice view of the gardens through the windows, and smokers can't get a seat!! There have been umpteen rows because non-smokers now fill the place as it's nicer than the inside of the pub.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 27, 2009 13:59:27 GMT 2
The following article is taken from the online Greek and English newspaper, "The Kathimerini", Wednesday, 27th May 2009. It appears that the general consensus and the figures are pro stop smoking in public places with the intended proviso's. I think it will be the visitors who will do most of the complaining, although it, for instance, the campaign is far more favourable than here in the UK. The Greeks will be more concerned with the issues to their business if they fail to comply.
Yeiamas, Chris
Bar staff hail smoking limits
As new data showed that more than eight out of 10 bar and cafe workers are in favor of an imminent ban on smoking in closed public places, President Karolos Papoulias became the first Greek citizen to sign a “charter for the rights and obligations of all for a smoke-free environment.”
According to statistics made public yesterday by Yiannis Tountas, a professor of social medicine at Athens University, 86 percent of staff at the country’s bars and restaurants are looking forward to the imposition of severe restrictions on smoking in public places on July 1 that will bring Greece into line with European Union standards on curbing the risks posed by passive smoking. Tountas’s research showed that many nonsmoking staff suffered because of their smoky work conditions, with 25 percent developing a cough and 36.5 percent shortness of breath. It is hoped that this situation will improve after June 31, the deadline for bar and restaurant employers to create separate smoking sections. According to the Health Ministry’s legal spokesman Polykarpos Adamidis, these smoking sections should account for between 20 percent and 40 percent of the premises, unless the establishment is smaller than 70 square meters, in which case, the bar or restaurant owner must decide whether to declare the establishment exclusively smoking or nonsmoking. The ministry already has asked the Central Union of Municipalities and Communities of Greece (KEDKE) to provide it with a list of all cafes, bars and restaurants with surface areas of less than 70 square meters, along with notes as to how many of these establishments have chosen to permit smoking.
Meanwhile, Papoulias signed a new charter designed to sensitize the public to the importance of averting passive smoking. Papoulias described smoking as “one of the great ills of Greek society.”
|
|
|
Post by racheyr on May 27, 2009 15:45:56 GMT 2
Does anyone know which bars and restaurants have decided to become smoking/ non-smoking establishments in Roda yet or will that be decided closer to the deadline?
|
|
|
Post by artisans on May 27, 2009 19:53:51 GMT 2
Ela!! racheyr, you used to live here - you can't expect a decision that quickly! ;D ;D There is still lots of debate - what constitutes 70sq.m.? Which part of a bar is inside and which outside? Do I care? etc., etc. It may be that the exact reverse of the UK situation may apply - non-smokers sit on the airy verandas and smokers retreat inside - sounds a much better proposition to me!
|
|
jacks
Roda Anorak
Posts: 3,853
|
Post by jacks on May 27, 2009 22:12:14 GMT 2
Yeah, that sounds like the best idea. lol
|
|
|
Post by racheyr on May 28, 2009 9:27:23 GMT 2
Silly me what was I thinking!! We all know that it will be decided 'Avrio' lol I hope the opposite to the UK situation happens, it'll be a nice change for the non smokers to get sent outside!! Then maybe I won't get attacked by mosquitos as much as they'll have had their fill from the non smokers!!
|
|
|
Post by artisans on May 28, 2009 9:45:55 GMT 2
Reported yesterday in Greek Reporter: What will be enforced from July 1st: - Smoking in closed rooms, health facilities, public transportation, sport facilities, waiting rooms, and all night entertainment places will be forbidden.
- Little glass rooms will be built, which will have a separate door and an AC. The rooms cannot take up more than 40% of the total area of the place.
- Places, which have total area of less than 70 square meters will not have to build anything and smoking will be allowed there.
Fines for people violating the new law will vary between €1 000 and €20 000.
- Sale of tobacco products to minors is forbidden.
Entrance of minors into night clubs is forbidden unless they have an elder companion.
- A special service will be created, which will protect minors from cigarettes and alcohol.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 28, 2009 12:51:56 GMT 2
Thank you for that information Steve & Julie. It sheds some new light on what to look out for from 1st July. I am interested in the last comment regarding minors entering night clubs etc. In the past we have often stated that some do not mind children coming in, but times have changed I suppose.
|
|
|
Post by lisydaly on May 28, 2009 14:08:40 GMT 2
The 'special service will be created' brought a smile to my face - now what do most kids (and adults!!) do when told something is strictly forbidden? Most youngsters from the UK are past masters at getting into clubs and pubs when underage (I was one, my daughter was one, and my grandaughter is thinking about becoming one - until the nanny from hell get to England in 3 weeks that is - me) and I dare say being on holiday won't deter them in the least - young Greeks, especially girls, are a different class and don't seem to binge drink etc. (not on the islands it would appear) but young lads? Come on, who do they think they are kidding??? A young Greek who is well on the way to thinking he is Adonis personified not going to try to get into a club which is full of young tourists partying the night away. Methinks they will.
|
|
jacks
Roda Anorak
Posts: 3,853
|
Post by jacks on May 28, 2009 16:10:22 GMT 2
lol Lisydaly, exactly!
|
|