italiafile

At midnight the new smoking laws come into force. The coverage in the papers over the last few days has equalled the column inches devoted to the tsunami. For Naples, where 50% of the population smoke, this law will be about as effective as the crash helmet, seat belt and not talking on the mobile while driving laws.
Basically, smoking will be banned in any internal space, bars, pubs, shops, restaurants and disco's. Smoking will only be permitted if the area is separated from the other parts by walls, with a self closing door, does not take up more than 50% of overall public space and has a fearsome ventilation system installed which is akin to being in a wind tunnel. Apparently less than 2% of Italian business will meet these requirements.
Here in Naples it is the other part of the law which is raising most worries. Anybody smoking in a banned place must be reported to the police by the owner. The smoker could be fined 250 euro, the owner 2500. (double if the smoking was committed in the presence of a child or pregnant woman). Now, Naples being Naples, every single bar and restaurant owner has announced that they might ask the smoker to stub out the offending fag, but that's as far as it will go. No-one has the slightest intention of calling in the law. Why would anyone want to grass on a legitimate customer? Bearing in mind that most of the Vigili smoke, I suspect that apart from a profusion of No Smoking signs, the law will have absolutely no effect whatsoever. It's one thing banning smoking in places like airports and trains... but to try and affect someones livelihood is beyond the pale in Naples.
Just before Christmas, a Senegalese street seller in Vomero was collared by the Carabinieri. The usual crime is selling without a permit, or selling counterfeit goods. Before they could haul him off, the burghers of Vomero in their fur coats and Burberry macs set to his defence.. he was after all only trying to make an honest living... The result: 7 Carabinieri hospitalised.