80% Smoke? Can it be true?

This is another post I wrote while in Greece. The photo is of my view at Maria’s as I wrote the post.

When we were in Hania we were talking with George at Ifigenia. He told us that 80% of Greeks smoke. We thought that seemed like a really high percentage.

After traveling around for a few weeks I’m not so skeptical of that statistic. This morning we were sitting having breakfast on an outdoor patio. There were twelve of us out here. Kathy and I were the only ones NOT smoking. It was the first time on the trip that I felt sick to my stomach – and that includes motoring around on the Aegean sea for a week!

I’ve been sitting here watching guest after guest come down the stairs. They’re ready for the day in their beachwear, with their big sunglasses carrying with them three things: cell phone, cigarettes and a lighter.

George had said that the Greeks don’t put restrictions on smokers because they get a lot of money from cigarette taxes. After being here for a few weeks, I would agree that that are almost no restrictions on them. I’m beginning to think that the 20% non-smokers are the ones that just haven’t started yet.

So I guess I find myself in Greece, appreciating the efforts in the US to reduce smoking and have smoke-free places. Now, if only the US could tackle some of its other health issues. After seeing how effective the anti-smoking campaign has been in the US, I wonder what else could be done.