Habits

Even in these early stages, there is a real sense of demarcation between life "before" and life "after" the pandemic. In coming months and years, we will experience a vast array of aftereffects, both emotional (e.g., risk tolerance, life priorities) and more tangible (e.g., national stockpiles, workplace configurations).

Tobacco kills more than 8 million people globally every year. More than 7 million of these deaths are from direct tobacco use and around 1.2 million are due to non-smokers being exposed to second-hand smoke.

New anti-smoking laws have come into force banning the sale of flavoured and skinny cigarettes in UK stores.

The move is part of efforts to deter young people from using menthol cigarettes as they are thought to mistakenly believe the flavoured characteristic makes the habit less harmful.

High rates of compliance with the anti-smoking law continue to be recorded in restaurants and bars, according to the National Transparency Authority (EAD) and the Greek Police (ELAS).

More specifically, in the period between January 6 and 16, 86 percent of the 352 restaurants and bars that were inspected were found to be in compliance with the law.

The National Transparency Authority shot down attempts to open "smokers clubs" across Greece, saying the law is clear about the universal ban of smoking and warning of repercussions if they flout it.

It was long in coming but widespread enforcement of the anti-smoking law now appears to be a reality in Greece.

The data collected jointly by the National Transparency Authority and Greek Police from inspections indicates that the overwhelming majority of citizens and businesses are complying with the law.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has noted  turn to the fight against smoking - the number of male smokers is decreasing for the first time worldwide and is on the turn, BTA reports.

So far, the WHO has noted a regular increase in male smokers since recording their numbers over the past 20 years.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis officially launched the Health Ministry's national action plan against smoking on Tuesday, hailing it as a "bold initiative for protecting public health" that would "modernize and refine public life."

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis hailed the Health Ministry's National Action Plan Against Smoking as a "bold initiative for protecting public health," at its presentation in Athens on Tuesday.

Ahead of Tuesday's scheduled launch of a new action plan to crack down on smoking in public places, a joint ministerial decision has stipulated the new range of stiffer penalties that transgressors are to face.