Smoking

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.

Three in four businesses in Greece have fallen into line with the decade-old smoking ban since the government made its enforcement in all indoor public spaces one of its top priorities and imposed stricter fines for violations.

The US government has announced that it will soon ban most of the flavoured e-cigarettes in an attempt to curb the growing number of young people who use them. However, the total ban promised by President Donald Trump in September will not be necessary, AFP reported.

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.

The US Congress has decided to raise the minimum age to purchase tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, from 18 to 21 years across the country, France Press reported.

The change passed by the Senate is part of a measure made to the budget bill. It will enter into force in about nine months.

One day after Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis officially launched the Health Ministry's national action plan against smoking, inspectors and police officers imposed the first fines on a cafe owner and his customer in central Greece for flouting the ban.

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.