Website presents smoke-free places for eating and drinking in Athens
ATHENS – Surrendering to smokers, Greece has essentially stopped enforcing a half dozen smoking bans in a country where the Alternate Health Minister, Pavlos Polakis, lit up during a No Smoking Day conference – in the ministry – and where the law is flouted openly.
It’s no secret and news stories occasionally report on the laws being ignored almost everywhere, including in schools, post offices, on public transport, hospitals, restaurants, cafes, and public buildings.
In a feature, the French news agency Agence France-Presse became the latest to outline the mocking of the laws that is so commonplace few are even shocked anymore although non-smokers are a majority in a country with one of the highest smoking rates in the world.
AFP wrote that George Balafoutis, who returned to Greece from New York in 2017, was so shocked to see that 10 years of No Smoking laws had done almost nothing that he designed a website to let non-smokers know where they could go to eat or drink without being under a cloud of cigarette smoke.
“After so many medical studies on (the harmful effects of) passive smoking, it’s unacceptable for smokers to keep on ignoring the health of pregnant women and children,” he told AFP.
Balafoutis’ website, akapnos.gr, currently lists more than 400 smoke-free establishments but he said he knows he’s tilting at windmills because Greeks will smoke where they want and as restaurant owners cater to them.
“Restaurant and club owners are afraid of losing smoking customers, and politicians are afraid of losing votes,” he said. Despite the ubiquitous fumes, he said he came home because he missed Greece and family and friends.
In 2009, Greece banned smoking in indoor public places, instituted stiff fines and created a complaints hotline and after a show demonstration of getting tough, stopped enforcing it and now there’s almost nowhere you can go without being subjected to smokers.
Nikos Louvros, an Athens bar owner and proponent of smokers’ rights, put ashtrabs on the table of his Booze Cooperativa bar, ignoring the law and getting away with it as inspectors who are supposed to be making visits and imposing fines have just about vanished.
“It makes sense not to smoke in a hospital but when you’re having fun, you should have the choice of going somewhere where you can smoke,” he said, without caring what non-smokers would prefer.
He founded a smokers’ political party after the 2009 law was passed even though there were so many loopholes that it allowed smoking in places that were supposed to have no smoking areas too.
In Greece, 72 percent of licensed establishments are restaurants that allow smoking, the highest figure in the European Union, according to a 2017 Eurobarometer study and some 37 percent of Greeks smoke, compared to an EU average of 26 percent, it found.
The issue came to light – or smoke – earlier this year when European Health Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis said he was shocked to see smoking in the Health Ministry and the photo of Polakis smoking there – as well as in nightclubs, telling Andriukaitis to butt out.
“It’s shameful! This guy knows nothing about health,” Greek daily Kathimerini quoted Andriukaitis as saying. Polakis, a veteran surgeon, scornfully replied on Facebook: “I’ll quit when I choose to… ok “guy”???”.
The 2009 anti-smoking law carries a fine of 50-500 euros ($56-$562) for an individual, and 500-1,000 ($562-$1123 for the establishment where the infraction occurred but there’s no reports of anyone fined.
“In the end, we will join the ranks of civilised nations… what are we, the idiots of Europe?” then Health Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos – now EU migration commissioner – said when the law was passed but he didn’t enforce it either.
The mayor of Greece’s second largest city, Thessaloniki, Yannis Boutaris – a chain smoker – said the law should be respected and enforced but won’t. “We are the only country in the world where laws are not respected because that’s just how we feel like.”
Read more at thenationalherald.com
RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
- 1) Greek Migration Minister visits refugee hosting facilities in Kavala, Drama and Serres
- 2) No new intubations for Covid-19 recorded in Greece for the first time
- 3) Greek PM at Athens supermarket: Consumers 'can already see lower prices on the shelf'
- 4) Greek Health Minister: Afternoon surgeries at state hospitals to begin shortly
16/03 13:01
Greek Deputy Foreign Μinister meets her Slovenian counterpart in Athens
16/03 12:56
Greek-Canadian Diaspora to welcome Greek Prime Minister to Toronto
16/03 11:28
Greek Migration Minister visits refugee hosting facilities in Kavala, Drama and Serres
15/03 21:50
Greek Minister announces conference on defence ecosystem in Athens from Lithuania
15/03 13:45
PM: More than 80 hospitals and 156 health centres being upgraded in Greece
15/03 12:55
Piraeus Port and Genoa Chambers of Commerce ink memorandum of cooperation
14/03 23:43
President of Hellenic Republic meets Prime Minister of Slovakia in Bratislava
14/03 22:58
American Express report highlights Global Travel Trends during 2024
14/03 22:52
Four hospitals in Attica Region already organizing afternoon surgical procedures
14/03 22:49
US Ambassador to Athens: More flights from the United States to Greece and Thessaloniki
14/03 22:43
Greek archaeologists discover ten ancient shipwrecks off Aegean island of Kasos
14/03 19:32
No new intubations for Covid-19 recorded in Greece for the first time
14/03 18:36
Extra road safety measures adopted for Greek pre-lent carnival and Clean Monday
14/03 14:48
14/03 12:54
Electric buses to be deployed on the streets of Athens and Thessaloniki by May
13/03 22:23
13/03 20:11
Prices of basic lenten products either lower or equal to last year's in Greece
13/03 19:15
US Ambassador to Athens: Greece secures NATO readiness via Alexandroupolis
13/03 17:19
13/03 12:26
Greece shows new costumes for revamped Olympic Flame-lighting ceremony
12/03 22:46
Epirotes Society of Philadelphia ‘Omonia’ organized 16th Annual ‘Tsipourovradia’
12/03 21:38
The President of the Hellenic Republic to visit Slovakia on March 13-15
12/03 20:29
First afternoon surgeries in Greece kick off at Papageorgiou Hospital in Thessaloniki
11/03 23:58
Greek Foreign Minister: We stand behind Montenegro's European perspective
11/03 23:47
Visa Express for Turkish citizens to commence on five Greek islands in March
11/03 19:40
11/03 18:49
Microsoft Data Center construction kicks off in Spata next to Athens Airport
11/03 17:53
Dodecanese Federation marked 76th Anniversary of Unification with Greece
09/03 22:23
08/03 14:27
Prime Minister: Radical change in Greek education and a brave reform for growth
08/03 14:24
Traffic restrictions expected in Athens mid-morning to evening on Friday due to protests
08/03 14:24
Applications to out-of-court settlement more than doubled in Greece in February
08/03 13:18
Metro station 'Maniatika' near Piraeus Port to be closed on Saturday and Sunday
07/03 14:12
Athens wins World Travel Award 2024 as the top city-break destination in Europe
06/03 22:51
WTTC data show Greece and Portugal lead league for growth in tourist arrivals
06/03 20:28
Greek Tourism Minister at ITB: 2024 will be another excellent year for sector
06/03 19:47
Greek Foreign Minister to meet UAE Minister of Industry and Technology on Friday
06/03 18:43
European Union actions of 274m euros to support cultural heritage in Greece
06/03 16:37
'Odontotos' rack railway temporarily stopped until landslides issue is resolved
06/03 14:40
Minister: Bringing about the return of Greeks abroad 'a moral duty'
05/03 14:28
Archdiocese of America Eparchial Synod to meet on March 14-17 in Florida
05/03 14:21
05/03 14:11
ITB BERLIN 2024 opens with excellent bookings after global rise in travel in 2023
05/03 12:24
Greek PM at Athens supermarket: Consumers 'can already see lower prices on the shelf'
04/03 22:02
Greek Health Minister: Afternoon surgeries at state hospitals to begin shortly
04/03 21:47
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Whitestone Community marks 49th Anniversary
04/03 20:27
Labor chief: Greece to train 500,000 workers in digital, green skills by 2025
04/03 19:44
Foreign Ministry to organize event on 'Women, Peace, and Security' on Friday
04/03 15:12
Athens Riviera | The summer experience with Athens as a background
29/02 22:54
Consumers to see price cuts up to 18.1% in 3,000 Greek supermarket products as of Friday
29/02 21:44
Greece and Germany set up Working Group on shipping cooperation
29/02 21:30
Wyndham Rewards’ Member Month offers 5 weeks of deals, discounts, and bonus points
29/02 21:03
Temple of Poseidon at Sounion near Athens to get new lighting system
29/02 21:02
29/02 20:47
Greece is represented by 60 firms at GULFOOD 2024 exhibition
29/02 19:58
Greek government gives 1+1 month extension for cash register-integrated POS terminals
29/02 19:49
Archangel Michael Church Dance Program shines at Folk Dance Festival in SF
29/02 15:39
'Renovate-rent' programme to be launched, Minister tells Greek Parliament
29/02 12:39
Rio-Antirrio ferry line in central Greece closed due to strong winds
28/02 21:34
Weather with heavy rain and storms in Greece as of Sunday night
28/02 17:31
CEO: The goal is for PPC to become a leading player in Southeast Europe
28/02 17:04
New Wyndham Hotels Market Managing Director of Central and Eastern Europe
28/02 12:21
Minister: Transactions with the Greek State will be further simplified in 2024
28/02 11:57
27/02 17:25
UN Tourism hails Saudi Arabia's historic milestone of 100 million tourists
27/02 15:00
Greek Prime Minister: Relations with Armenia can become even more productive
27/02 14:26
Wyndham: New growth cycle in Greece for the largest hotel chain franchise in the world
27/02 13:15
Price cuts of up to 15% in important product categories in Greece after March 1
27/02 12:46
Athens taxi drivers' protest rally in progress from Athinon avenue to Messogion
26/02 18:30
Annual Summit of Women Political Leaders (WPL) to be held in Athens in April
26/02 18:27
Culture Ministry: Schwartz Mansion in Ampelakia near Larisa to get new lighting
26/02 17:25
Greek president organizes reception for diplomats at Presidential Mansion
26/02 16:33
Trapped rack-railway passengers returned safely to Diakopto in Peloponnese
26/02 16:21
Public transport, ferry and taxi strikes in Athens on Wednesday
25/02 12:30
Greek island of Ikaria among the Blue Zones for Health Eating and Longevity
24/02 20:39
Greek PM meets Qatar Emir: Focus on bilateral cooperation and investments
24/02 18:25
Prescription cannabis for medicinal use legally available in Greece for the first time
24/02 17:19
MInister: The aim is to make fishing and fish-farming a key pillar of the economy
23/02 23:36
Greek Prime Minister arrives in Doha to be received by Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi
23/02 23:26
The Festival of Greek Dances takes place in the Metropolis of San Francisco
23/02 21:32
Revealing "70 Years of Friendship: Greece's photo journey through the Korean War"
23/02 17:15
16 Greek firms showcase at international fashion exhibitions in London
23/02 14:09
Flights to and from Heraklion airport in Crete resume on Saturday
22/02 18:15
Bill for non-state, non-profit universities being tabled in Greek Parliament on Thursday
22/02 18:13
Temporary residence for displaced Ukrainians extended in Greece to March 2025
22/02 18:10
American Hellenic Institute Golden Jubilee celebration Includes concert on April 12
22/02 18:09
Tourism Minister stresses importance of strong relationship of Greece with Serbia
22/02 17:58
Education protest rally ends and traffic resumes in Athens city center
21/02 19:47
Twistic and WeavAIR startups clinch the UN Tourism Hospitality Challenge
21/02 18:34
21/02 18:13
Traffic in Athens returning to normal after tractors depart from the Greek capital
21/02 13:01
Greek Tourism Minister in Belgrade for International Exhibition
21/02 00:55
Resilience through diversity and investments the aim of UN Tourism visit to Jamaica
20/02 23:38
Rally concludes with farmer tractors leaving Athens on Wednesday morning
20/02 20:43
Greek Prime Minister on official visit to India as of Wednesday
20/02 16:51
Minister: Greece wants to become India's gateway to the European Union
19/02 21:19
DEFEA Conference to be held at Stavros Niarchos Foundation in Athens on May 15
19/02 19:06
Traffic restrictions for farmers' rally in central Athens on Tuesday
19/02 18:11
Greece wins top tourist destination award at Grand Travel Awards in Sweden
19/02 14:23
Health Minister: Option of afternoon surgeries at public hospitals start in Greece
Greek-Canadian Diaspora to welcome Greek Prime Minister to Toronto
Greek Deputy Foreign Μinister meets her Slovenian counterpart in Athens
Greek Migration Minister visits refugee hosting facilities in Kavala, Drama and Serres
Greek Minister announces conference on defence ecosystem in Athens from Lithuania
Four hospitals in Attica Region already organizing afternoon surgical procedures
US Ambassador to Athens: More flights from the United States to Greece and Thessaloniki
American Express report highlights Global Travel Trends during 2024
Piraeus Port and Genoa Chambers of Commerce ink memorandum of cooperation
President of Hellenic Republic meets Prime Minister of Slovakia in Bratislava
PM: More than 80 hospitals and 156 health centres being upgraded in Greece
Epirotes Society of Philadelphia ‘Omonia’ organized 16th Annual ‘Tsipourovradia’
Report: School of St. Nectarios of Roslindale, a Beacon of Greek language and heritage
Saint Thomas Hellenic School organizes Parent Teacher Organization Fundraiser
Greek Prime Minister to meet Bulgarian counterpart at Maximos Mansion
IOBE forecasts 2.4% growth and 10.5% unemployment in Greece during 2024
Greek retail sector turnover exceeds last year's figures with €4 billion in December
Athens International Airport makes spectacular debut on Athens Stock Exchange
Rally concludes with farmer tractors leaving Athens on Wednesday morning
Education protest rally ends and traffic resumes in Athens city center
3-year stay and work permits approved for 30,000 undocumented migrants in Greece
Construction of Greece-Cyprus-Israel interconnection cable commences
Golden Visa bonus for foreigners buying luxury homes at Ellinikon in Athens
Development Minister: Supermarket food prices will start dropping in Greece in March
European Commission: Greece assumes command of Red Sea maritime operation
Greek president organizes reception for diplomats at Presidential Mansion