A smoking ban in Italy?

The law may finally begin cracking down on those who break no smoking laws

It took 90,000 Italians to die from smoking related causes last year for government officials to finally begin enforcing no smoking laws.
Fines have now increased to 200 Euros for those who decide to light up in public places where smoking has been outlawed. A once comical scene, many areas such as train stations, hospitals and state offices would be dimmed with smoke from both clients and employees puffing away while no smoking signs were obscured by a thick yellow haze, has now caused the ire of more than a few as more and more evidence exists that even second hand smoke can be fatal.
Health Minister, Girolamo Sirchia, commented on the new laws put into effect for 2002, pointing out that not only those who smoke will be fined but there is also a price for shop owners who allow clientele to ignore the no smoking signs. And fines increase to 250 Euros if a smoker breaks a ban in the presence of children or pregnant women.
According to national statistics there are over 15 million regular second hand smokers of whom one in four are under the age of 14.

Publication Date: 2002-08-04
Story Location: http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=1642