Court upholds Italian smoking ban

An administrative court has upheld Italy’s new anti-smoking law, one of the toughest in Europe, Italian newspapers reported today.

The law, which went into effect last month, bans smoking in bars, restaurants, offices and other indoor spaces unless they have a separate area with adequate ventilation. Establishment owners who don’t enforce the ban face fines of up to €2,200, while smokers risk fines as high as €275.