A new anti-smoking law went into force in Greece today. Smoking is now prohibited in hospitals, airports and schools and public transport as well as some bars and restaurants.

Smoking will be allowed in bars, cafes and restaurants that are smaller than 70 square metres and larger establishments will have to choose between creating a separate smoking area or banning smoking entirely. People breaking the law can be fined up to 500 euros and businesses that fail to comply will be fined 1000 euros for a first offence. Repeat offenders could lose their licences. Tobacco advertising will be banned as of September.

It remains to be seen whether the measure will be effective; two earlier anti-smoking laws were widely ignored. Greece is Europe's heaviest smoking nation, almost 45 percent of the adult population smokes. Around 20,000 people die from smoking-related illnesses every year at a cost of around 2.14 million euros to the public purse.