Greece Lags Behind Europe in Smoke-Free Homes
Despite progress across Europe in reducing exposure to second-hand smoke, Greece remains at the bottom of the rankings for smoke-free homes, according to a new study.
The TackSHS survey, conducted in 2017-2018 and published this week, revealed that only 44.4% of Greek households are smoke-free.
This falls significantly below the European average of 70.2%.
Worryingly, even among non-smokers in Greece, only 60.1% of households are completely smoke-free. This contrasts sharply with countries like Portugal, where 96.4% of non-smoking households have banned smoking indoors.
The study found a correlation between higher education levels and smoke-free homes, suggesting that awareness and education play a crucial role in changing habits.
Wealthier countries and those in Northern Europe also reported a higher prevalence of smoke-free homes.
While the percentage of smokers in Greece has decreased to 28% in 2023, the study highlights the need for greater efforts to promote smoke-free environments, especially within homes.
This includes public awareness campaigns and initiatives to encourage smokers to protect the health of their families and guests.
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