Italiaanse rokers in het nauw
Ook in Italië worden met ingang van het nieuwe jaar de rokers krachtig aangepakt. Café’s en restaurants moeten aparte rookruimtes of -gebieden aanleggen met sterke ventilatie en sigarettenautomaten moeten buiten werking zijn tussen 9 uur ‘s ochtends en 7 uur ‘s avonds.
De Italianen kennende is het echter de vraag of een en ander wel gehoorzaamd opgevolgd zal worden.
After seatbelts in cars and helmets for motorcyclists, the anti-smoking measures are the latest government strictures aimed at protecting Italians from themselves. Italians tend to be restive about respecting rules and it remains to be seen how the attack on fumatori will be received in the land where one in four people smoke, where smoking is still chic, and where tobacco production is a major industry.
The initiative has been promoted by the health minister, Girolamo Sirchia. “The decree safeguarding the health of non-smokers is an act of civility,” he said.
Bar and restaurant owners are not obliged to provide smoking areas: they can continue operating but with a blanket ban on smoking.
The law gives precise dispositions on the ventilation required in smoking areas and the number of smokers allowed to occupy the space.
