Organizers ask Greeks to smoke less during the Olympic games

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 17 May 2004 - 0:00 PDT

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As the Olympic games draw near, organizers have been asking the Greeks, who love to smoke, to try and create a less smoky environment for visitors.

At least 40-45% of all Greeks are smokers. 60% of 20-34 year-olds are smokers.

Organizers have asked Greeks to establish no-smoking zones and respect the rules. Even taxi drivers are being asked to keep their stubs away while the Olympics are on.

THE ENIGMA

Life expectancy in Greece is above the Western European average even though the Greeks are by far the heaviest smokers, consuming 3,012 cigarettes per person a year compared with an EU average of 1,741 and a low in Sweden of 992. The UK puffs its way through 1,536 per person, with the Irish smoking 1,730.