[Levendi]

Much trumpeted legislation aimed at stamping out smoking in Greece, Europe's most tobacco addicted nation, has been declared a failure by health campaigners.

A lack of enforcement and widespread public defiance is being blamed for the Greeks' inability to conform to European standards.

As the BBC's Malcolm Brabant reports, Greek rebelliousness is one of the biggest obstacles.





http://news.bbc.co.u...pth/8503444.stm

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What a surprise. :rolleyes:

[TheGreekMan]

Meanwhile the hospital bills paid for by the Greek governments broke coffers ramps up

I even went to a Greek consulate recently and reeked of cigareete smoke with dirty carpets, rude and unorganised staff and then we wonder what happened to Greece.

I don't think a Military Junta with a King in place is too bad now. Metaxas or Venizelos please return.

This post has been edited by TheGreekMan: 10 February 2010 - 06:26 PM

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TheGreekMan, on 10 February 2010 - 06:26 PM, said:

Meanwhile the hospital bills paid for by the Greek governments broke coffers ramps up

I even went to a Greek consulate recently and reeked of cigareete smoke with dirty carpets, rude and unorganised staff and then we wonder what happened to Greece.

I don't think a Military Junta with a King in place is too bad now. Metaxas or Venizelos please return.

If you mean the Greek consulate in Melbourne, it isn't that bad. Rude and unorganized staff? They were perfectly polite to me when I went in for a passport interview last week. I had to wait a while, but my actual appointment was over pretty quickly. Of course, it helps when you have all your documents ready and can speak the language fluently. At least no one smokes inside, unlike what used to go on back in the old days. Unfortunately, cigarette smoke residue will always smell, especially if they're all smokers and carry it back inside in their lungs. Did you ever visit the old consulate off Queens Road? :mega_shok:

[ΜΑΝΙΑΤΗΣ]

You do realize that Venizelos was of course a prolific pipe smoker. I think Metaxas was too.

[TheGreekMan]

ÎœÎ, on 10 February 2010 - 06:53 PM, said:

You do realize that Venizelos was of course a prolific pipe smoker. I think Metaxas was too.

If they knew of the health problems associated with it and the costs to the Greek state they would not have allowed it to continue and would actually enforce the laws.

My experience of that consulate that is an unorganised mess if I ever did see one. Like stepping into the 70's in terms of decor, smell, a useless metal detector you can walk "around" it, not even enforced and where you need to pass a fakelaki if you want any decent service.

They are supposed to be representing Greece, well I can see why Greece is a basketcase.

This post has been edited by TheGreekMan: 10 February 2010 - 07:02 PM

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[ΜΑΝΙΑΤΗΣ]

As for their supposedly lax security measures, it is just a consulate after all. Jesus. And they do have to buzz you in, you can't just walk in as you please.

[TheGreekMan]

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[TheGreekMan]

ÎœÎ, on 11 February 2010 - 05:30 PM, said:

TheGreekMan, on 11 February 2010 - 05:23 AM, said:

ÎœÎ, on 10 February 2010 - 11:54 PM, said:

As for their supposedly lax security measures, it is just a consulate after all. Jesus. And they do have to buzz you in, you can't just walk in as you please.

Buzzed in lol.... nothing of the sort.. was just walk on in as it was for everyone else and walk around the metal detector.. too easy. Seriously what other government office do you walk into and get overpowered with cigarette smoke smell and see dirty carpets. None in Australia I know of. It is pathetic.

I was there with a Greek born fluent speaker, so nothing to do with my accent and in fact other people were getting dis-serviced abruptly. The only decent person was the Aussie sounding blonde security manager. Overall they were particularly lazy looking to me and that we were impinging on they smoko time. Maybe you're just used to it.

I'm sure glad I don't have to go there again. It's funny as on the way over there, we had a Greek cab driver who was talking about how bad the service was at one of the national bank of Greece branches and how the receptionist thought she owned the place.

Now that the German tax payer is basically going to own Greece maybe they'll put some order into the place.

Well I visited the Greek consulate in Melbourne just last week and it wasn't as you describe at all. I had to ring the bell to be let in via the intercom. I can honestly say I didn't notice the filthy carpet, and you're talking to someone who is such a hygiene freak he avoids public restrooms unless it's a medical emergency. Maybe you're just a bit of a princess? I went to the doctor today and the waiting room was much worse. You must be living in a different country.

See the other thread regarding Germany's as-yet unresolved debt to Greece. Besides, who gives a shit about the German taxpayer?

Well I was there 2 Tuesday's ago and I'm not lying. The brown streaks in the carpet, the terrible smell of cigarettes, the walk right in and around the metal detector.

I give a shit about Greeks expecting handouts and to live in debt...WW2 ended 1945, they should get over expecting endless compensations for it and get their own house in order themselves and stop expecting others to.

This post has been edited by TheGreekMan: 11 February 2010 - 05:35 PM

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The reality is that 99.9% of Greek Australians are incorrigibly biased against Greece and see Greece-bashing as some sort of patriotic Aussie duty. I'm sure you would find something to bitch about even without the whiff of nicotine. Have you ever been to Greece, by the way? That's how it smells everywhere. Let's nuke it, hey?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the fact you don't have to go back obviously means you were served and got the job done, does it not? The post office at which I lodged by Australian passport application a couple of years ago was a lot more dilapidated than the Greek consulate, which really isn't that bad. If it were you, you would shut up and wear it. Why is that? Why are the Greeks here happy to cop bad customer service from the Aussies, but when it comes to our own kind we go hysterical?

It's like this. You may think you're superior, but the Greeks in Greece couldn't give a flying fuck what we think of them. Honestly.

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[TheGreekMan]

[moniker]

As to the smoking bans .... as a non smoker it pisses me right off that they have no respect whatsoever for peeps who dont smoke and dont want to inhale their ciggie smoke. Mou ti dinei . Theyre not being rebellious theyre being arrogant to non smokers saying I dont give a fark if u dont like it .

Id love to slap them all and throw their ciggies away :girl_crazy:


ok rant over! I had a headache the whole time I was in Greece coz of the smoking!

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[TheGreekMan]

[ΜΑΝΙΑΤΗΣ]

TheGreekMan, on 11 February 2010 - 08:57 PM, said:

As a most passionate supporter of Greece I am utterly let down and over it.

I guess that's what separates the true patriots from the wannabes.

[TheGreekMan]

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