Smokers in Italy are being forced to curb their habit as a ban on lighting up in public places comes into force today.
Bars, restaurants, discotheques and offices are all out of bounds for people with lit cigarettes, unless they have special ventilated smoking rooms.
Plainclothes police officers are expected to patrol the country's 240,000 eating and drinking establishments on the look out for any of Italy's 14 million smokers breaking the rules.
Anyone who defies the new law will face fines of up to £200. Offending landlords will have to pay up to £1,500.
The law had been due to come into force on January 1 but Health Minister Girolamo Sirchia granted a delay so New Year's Eve and Epiphany revellers did not have their parties spoiled.
Mr Sirchia, who is also a doctor, has insisted the law will protect public health. He said: "It's not inspired by the idea of prohibition. It's to protect against passive smoking.
"Eighty-seven percent of lung tumours are caused by cigarettes."
But Italian defence minister Antonio Martino is against the ban. He told the newspaper Corriere della Sera: "I've been smoking since age 18. It's my sacred right."
Only 5% of bar and restaurant owners have introduced dedicated smoking rooms.
The legislation in Italy follows similar bans imposed last year in Ireland and Norway.
http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0...280452,00.html
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