Greek Ministry of Health plans to lighten the strict no-smoking ban that was put in force on September 1, due to an enormous pressure by café and restaurant owners, who claim that the new ban and economic crisis are destroying them, Friday’s Kathimerini reports.

According to the sources of the Athens’ daily, the ministry plans to allow smoking in cafés and bars after 9 p.m. for the people over 18. The ban could continue to be applied in restaurants.

General Secretary of the Mininstry of Health Antonis Dimopoulos said that the authorities have been besieged by complaints from the bar and café owners claiming to have seen their businesses plummet.

However, the softening of the ban may not be adopted, since Greek regulations have to be acceptable to the European Commission.

If the changes are made, they will probably be announce on the first week of December, after the conference on smoking, that will be co-organized by Ministry of Health and experts from the Harvard University.