Let's see if it works this time. As of Tuesday (1st September) a total smoking ban in public places in Greece comes into effect, bringing the country into line with many other EU countries where similar bans have proven to be extremely successful. What makes this different is that Greece has tried many times to bring in less-comprehensive smoking bans in the past and have all failed. The latest, in June 2009 was, like now, a complete smoking ban in all public places except casinos and large music halls, which were given an extra 9 months before also coming under ban. While previous bans failed due to the Greeks' affinity to the noxious weed - at 51% of all adults smoking, it has the highest smoking rates in Europe by far - and a complete disregard to authority, the June 2009 ban failed as the then ruling conservative Nea Dimokratia Party reduced policing of the measure so as to not alienate voters!Greek Health Minister Mariliza Xenogiannakopoulou said that this time it is a 'matter of health' and 'not a witch hunt', whereby violators will be fined anywhere between 50 to 500 Euros, with higher fines up to 10,000 euros and revoking of licences for proprietors of places like cafes, bars and restaurants. Many Greeks have cynically have dismissed the ban as a way for the government to gain much needed cash.
The long-term outcome of this ban will be a good barometer to see whether the recent economic upheavals Greece has faced has really caused a change in attitudes to authority and the rule of law. Yet another failure of enforcement of smoking regulations and a disregard of the law would strongly suggest that no lessons have been learnt.
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