Smoking inspections are purely for show

It does move! We are talking about the anti-smoking mechanism that was set in motion just before it was taken over by rust and decay.

Four months after the county officially entered into a non-smoking status, and after retractions and reversals, the ministries decided to take the necessary and required inspections in enclosed public places, where smoking is prohibited, not in order to safeguard public health but rather to ensure the implementation of the law.

It remains to be seen whether they will continue with seriousness and stability

However, recent inspection data collected by the Health ministry, which is at the disposal of protothema.gr, shows  a a tightening of the checks, especially on the part of the Municipal Police. Of the 169 Municipal Police Corps across the country, 97 began the checks immediately after the warning by minister of Health Andreas Loverdos that the findings will be recorded and disclosed so that each mechanism (and the relevant ministry) will take responsibility for the part they have been assigned.

Intense checks but few fines

It is significant that within a week (January 22 to 28) there were 2.768 nationwide smoking inspecti9ons in facilities related to hygiene, whereas during October-December 2010 inspections across the country did not exceed 6.500.

However, the "mobilization" of the Municipal Police for smoking inspections did not work as expected in terms of recording the reality. While the majority of hygiene-related businesses, ie cafes, bars, restaurants, etc., are covered in clouds of smoke, the inspectors identified only 249 offenders. Demonstrating an unprecedented amount of leniency, they imposed only 151fines for a total of 249 violations

However, the total of fines for the last week of inspections is 91.850 euros. During October-December 2010 the fines reached 160.400, with the lion’s share in Thessaloniki, where the Municipal Police imposed fines of 57.650 euros.