Smoking ban will work, says public health expert

Dr Panagiotis Behrakis, director of the Institute of Public Health at the American College of Greece, who is heading a council of experts steering the Greek government's anti-smoking campaign, said he believes Greek society is ready for a full enforcement of the ban.

"When a newly elected prime minister, with an overwhelming majority, clearly prioritizes the issue and expresses strong will for the universal implementation of the law, there is no chance of losing. For the first time, I am optimistic. After all, the conditions have matured," he told Kathimerini.

Behrakis says progress has already been made, with a change in mentality among the young, a reduction in the number of smokers, and implementations of the ban at private businesses. "However, public sector workers and senior officials continued to smoke at work," he says.

"Top government officials should...