[C-U Smokefree] FW: [JoeCherner-announce]Italy Goes Smokefree

[Kathy Drea]

Italy Goes Smokefree

Italy joins Ireland, Norway, Sweden, New Zealand, Malta, Uganda, and
Bhutan

Parts excerpted from the New York Times, 1/11/05

MILAN, Jan. 10 - On January 10, Italy implemented smokefree workplace
legislation for all workers, including restaurant and bar workers.
Smokers huddled resignedly on sidewalks outside restaurants at
lunchtime, while those inside enjoyed what would be for many their first
smokefree meal.

Getting people not to smoke in a country where around a quarter of the
population does has been a major headache for the Health Ministry, which
pushed the law through more than a year ago, giving restaurants and bars
12 months to comply.

The new law eliminates smoking in indoor spaces, including offices,
unless they have a separate smoking area with continuous
floor-to-ceiling walls and a separate ventilation system.  Many bars and
cafes in Italy are simply too small to accommodate such a space.

Restaurateurs risk fines of up to 2,000 euros, about $2,600, and loss of
their license if they do not enforce the law. Smokers face fines of
27.50 euros to 275 euros. 

The first fine, issued a minute after midnight on Monday, was handed out
to a 22-year-old smoker who was caught lighting up in a bar in Piazza
Vanvitelli in Naples, the Italian news media reported. The unidentified
man was fined 27.50 euros.

Ireland, Norway, Sweden, and Italy are the first four countries in
Europe to enact total smokefree workplace legislation, while partial
smokefree workplace laws exist in other European nations. 

Smokefree workplace laws were first passed in Italy in 1975, although
restaurants and bars were exempt. Citing the 80,000 deaths each year
that can be traced to smoking-related causes, Health Minister Girolamo
Sirchia made the new law a main priority despite the opposition of some
members of his the cabinet.

"This law is not a prohibitionist law; we don't prohibit smokers from
smoking, we just ask for the protection of others," Mr. Sirchia said in
an interview.

"ALL workers deserve a safe, healthy, smokefree work environment," says
Joe Cherner, founder of BREATHE-- Bar and Restaurant Employees
Advocating Together for a Healthy Environment.  No worker should have to
risk getting cancer to hold a job."

To win smokefree air where YOU live, go to
http://www.smokefree.net/alerts.php

Joseph W. Cherner

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the 
world.  Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."    Margaret Mead

________________________________

To unsubscribe kdrea at lungil.org, send any email to
uns-102-23010- at smokefree.net 

To search the JoeCherner-announce archives, go to:
http://smokefree.net/JoeCherner-announce/messages
<http://smokefree.net/JoeCherner-announce/messages/>  


Sent to 54,410 JoeCherner-announce subscribers
http://smokefree.net/JoeCherner-announce/subscribers
<http://smokefree.net/JoeCherner-announce/subscribers/>  

To SUBSCRIBE/JOIN the JoeCherner-announce listserv, send any message to
JoeCherner-announce-subscribe at smokefree.net 

If you would like to help prevent another generation of tobacco
addiction and disease, click here <http://www.smokefree.net/alerts.php>
. 

Sent to kdrea at lungil.org 
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.chambana.net/mailman/archive/cu-smokefree/attachments/20050118/22942e9a/attachment.htm