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Smoking Ban in Italy - What about the E Cigarette?
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- Category: Italy
- Published on Monday, 17 October 2011 09:47
- Written by Roberto
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In January 2005, Italy became the third Eurpean country after Ireland and Norway to instate a nationwide ban on all indoor public cigarette smoking. The purpose of this ban is to cut down on the levels of secondhand smoke that non-smokers often had to endure before the ban was put into effect. It was also meant to deter people from smoking altogether. It is estimated that cigarette smoking is the cause of 90,000 deaths each year.
Although some public buildings allow smoking in designated areas that are sealed off from the rest of the building, the law generally prohibits smoking in all restaurants, bars, office buildings, factories and other places of business. Businesses who do not comply with this law may be fined up to 2,000 euros while smokers themselves could face a fine of 275 euros. This fine can double if a cigarette is smoked near children or pregnant women.
Research has shown that this smoking ban has had a positive effect on the health of Itialian citizens. One study that was published in ScienceDaily in 2008 has shown that the number of heart attacks and other acute coronary events has decreased by 11.2 percent in adults between the ages of 35 and 64. There has also been a 7.9 percent decrease in coronary events in adults between the ages of 65 and 74. These are significant changes that no doubt could be partially attributed to the smoking ban. Cigarette smoking overall has of course decreased in Italy since the ban went into effect, and cigarette sales have decreased by around 5 percent. The smoking ban seems to have had a greater effect on younger people, possibly because younger people are more likely to spend more time away from home. Older people are more likely to spend time in their homes where they are unaffected by a public smoking ban.
One question that has been asked is what the Italian smoking ban means for the use of electronic cigarettes, also known as e-cigarettes. E-cigarettes allow smokers to inhale a vaporized mist containing nicotine and simulating the flavor of tobacco smoke. They have long been seen as a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes, and since they do not produce second-hand smoke they are safer for those around the smoker. The mist also does not damage the walls of buildings like tobacco smoke tends to do over time, which may have been another reason for the smoking ban. E Cigarette reviews have been shown, that they become more and more popular.
While e-cigarettes may not be the most ideal method of cutting down on cigarette smoking, they do appear to be significantly safer and cleaner than traditional cigarettes. Italy seems to be open to the idea of pushing e-cigarettes as a safer alternative to smoking, with a recent study in which smokers were given the electronic devices in an attempt to quit smoking. The research showed that smokers cut down on their cigarette use by up to 50 percent.
The History of Italy
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- Category: Italy
- Published on Friday, 30 September 2011 13:46
- Written by Roberto
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Italy the Mediterranean country has an interesting and varied history. Italian food, art and culture has been renowned throughout the ages. Some of the most artistic and varied cultures have been Italian. Excavations have led to individuals being present in what is now Italy since the Paleolithic Age, approximately 200,000 years ago. The Volts, Celts, Umbian and other Italic tribes made up the native Italian peoples.
Almost everyone knows about the colossal empire of Ancient Rome. The great Roman empire existed from approximately the 8th century BC to its decline and fall in the 4th century AD. The Roman Empire encompassed most of Europe and Asia, and is one of the greatest civilizations that the world has ever known.
Between the 11th and 17th centuries what is modern day Italy was colonized by the Greeks. The Greeks had settlements all over the coast of Italy. There influence led to many Italian innovations. Italy is also known for its strong association with Catholicism.
During the middle ages Italy was characterized by the rise of city states. It was however, largely anarchic in origin. Italy like most of Europe was a teeming mass of humanity. This teeming mass led to the black plague in 1348. Fortunately, the time after the plague led to the Italian Renaissance.
The Italian Renaissance feature the famous Italian Master's such as DaVinci, Michelangelo and others. They showed a great deal of ingenuity and workmanship in their famous artistic works. Matters of science showed the likes of Galileo Gaileili and also Davinci.It was truly the rise of a cultural and scientific Renaissance like the world had never known, and it was based in Italy.
The period during and after the Renaissance led to the Italian Wars. They characterize the area from about about 1494 to 16th century. They were basically land based wars. They were followed by an era of Spanish succession, and then Austrian rule. This was also known as the Early Modern Period.
The period following the Early Modern Period until World War 1 was known as the Italian Kingdom where all of Italy became united under the house of Savoy. Italy stayed neutral during World war I but later joined with the Austro Hungarian Empire. Italy became under Fascist rule in World War II, under the rule of the dictator Benito Mussolini.
Modern Day Italy established a republic in 1946, after they over threw the rule of King Umberto. They are currently governed by Silvio Berlusconi but have experienced a great deal of political and social unrest in the current age. They are a member of the G7 European summit.