Alcohol/smoking

ALCOHOL
Though alcohol is readily available in Italy public drunkenness is not accepted, and people expect their friends to know when to stop.
Does the Italian system mean there's no alcohol abuse? No, but there isn't the "go out and drink"mentality that one encounters in other countries. This is reflected in Italian bars, which serve as neighborhood social centers and make more money from selling coffee and ice cream than they do from anything else.

SMOKING
An official ban on smoking in all enclosed public places has come into force in Italy on 10 January 2005.
The new law obliges restaurants, bars, offices and factories to prohibit tobacco use on their premises unless they are able to provide special sealed off rooms with smoke extractors. In reality, not many retailers are able to fulfill this condition, making it practically impossible to smoke in any public places.
A fine of up to 2,000 euros may be levied on businesses which fail to comply with this law. Smokers themselves may be fined up to 275 euros. The fine can double if a smoker lights up in front of children or pregnant women.