Greece is to impose a smoking ban in public places, Agence France-Presse reported.

After two previous laws, that restricted smokers to designated areas in businesses, bars and restaurants, were continually ignored, the health ministry announced plans to ban smoking in all public places.
The new total ban, which will also include a provision to raise the tobacco-purchasing age to 18, will be presented to the Greek parliament in June.
According to ERC, a market research company, Greece is the number one smoking country in Europe with an average of 3,000 cigarettes smoked per person in 2007. (pi)