Habits

The government is currently drafting a joint ministerial decision ensuring stricter fines for violations of the anti-smoking law which will officially go into effect on November 19.
The fines currently in place were introduced a decade ago when the first anti-smoking legislation was passed into law and are not considered tough enough by authorities.

The most severe habits can be broken in 66 days. This was summed up in a report by University College London researchers.

According to their analysis, each new habit is formed over a period of 2 months, for some people it may take only 18 days and for others it may take up to 254.

Smokers in Austria will no longer be able to smoke a cigarette while drinking coffee at local restaurants, bars or cafes. As of 01.11.2019, the smoking is banned under a law passed in the summer, world agencies have reported.

The number of deaths from pulmonary diseases in the United States caused by smoking electronic cigarettes has reached 37. The number of patients has exceeded 1,800 people, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, cited by the BGNES.

Greeks appear to be growing more aware of the risks of smoking, according to a study which found that the number of adults who smoke has declined from 40 percent to 27.5 percent in a decade.

Lawmakers on Tuesday will be voting on the government's new law for clamping down on smoking in public, which also introduces stricter bans and stiffer fines than the previous, much-flouted legislation.

If the Health Ministry draft bill is ratified, as expected, the new law will go into effect the following day.

People will be able to report violations of the smoking ban on a three-digit number, according to Health Minister Vassilis Kikilias, who reiterated the government's intention to enforce the relevant law.

A Health Ministry draft law that is under public consultation until Wednesday seeks to further strengthen Greece's much-flouted ban on smoking in indoor public areas by expanding its scope and enlisting the help of the police.

Under policies meant to discourage the public from puffing up, drivers caught smoking in cars in Turkey may face a fine. 

Greek Health Minister Vassilis Kikilias has banned smoking in all public places where there are children. An anti-drug campaign is also starting in Bulgaria's neighbour. Fines of up to 10,000 euro will be imposed on the sale of alcohol and cigarettes to minors, BNR reported.