ROME, Jan 6 (AFP) - Italy's 14 million smokers braced Friday for a new law which comes into force Monday banning them from smoking in public places including bars, restaurants, discotheques and offices.
There have been two delays in applying the regulation, but now the die is cast. As of Monday, private homes, the open air or special places reserved for smokers will be the only places to light up.
Asian tsunamis apart, no subject has dominated conversation more among the nation's large bar and cafe population.
Only five percent of Italy's 240,000 bars and restaurants have special rooms for smokers, says FIP, the trade association.
Some landlords have threatened to boycott the law, warning they will not play sheriff to customers.
Nevertheless, a public opinion poll has shown that 83 percent of Italians are in favour.
Hardened smokers are stoical. "This new regulation will be a weapon in the hands of non-smokers to show they've got the law on their side," said philosophy student Claudia.
Smokers seem resigned, especially with promised fines of 250 euros (330 dollars) for customers caught smoking, and up to 2,000 euros (2,660 dollars) for offending landlords.
The move follows similiar bans imposed last year in Ireland and Norway, where smoking is barred in public places, with plans in place in other countries such as Britain, Portugal and Sweden to bring in similar laws.
Gianpaolo, a 54 year-old office worker, said his local bar in Cinecetta, the Rome movie studio district, had already banned smoking to get regulars used to the idea.
"The landlord put up a sign saying 'Vietato fumare' (no smoking). There's no special room where you can smoke, but he allows smoking on outside terraces where there are ashtrays if customers can't do without a puff even for a moment."
Gianpaolo is miffed because, although he can still buy cigarettes at his local bar, he can't light up there over his coffee and grappa.
At Angelo's Bar near the Vatican Museums, the landlord has a sign up saying: "You're allowed to smoke on alternative days here. Today is no-smoking day."
"I'm an inveterate smoker and I know it will be hard to find a bar or nice tearoom to have a cup with my friends," said Teresa: "There are very few places with separate rooms for smokers."
But she admitted: "Basically I find the law OK. It has been in force for a long time on trains, and that makes things better for everybody. It used to be awful."
One problem will be discotheques, whose owners fear losing customers, mostly young smokers.
Meanwhile inside the Vatican, they dutifully try to respect Italian regulations but with occasional lapses by smoking priests.
After all, according to tradition this is where it all started in Europe, when a 16th century French ambassador, Jean Nicot, presented the weed as a gift to the pope.
01/07/2005 12:01 GMT - AFP