The imminent ban on smoking in public places appears to have given some people the incentive to kick the habit, as some hospital clinics that help people quit are reporting waiting lists of up to three months.

The smoking ban starts on July 1 and, when contacted by Kathimerini, hospital clinics indicated there was a rush of people wanting to quit. The University Hospital of Larissa, for instance, has no appointments until after September 20. At the Evangelismos Hospital in Athens, appointments are available for mid-August onward.

There are currently less than 40 clinics across Greece that help people quit smoking and it seems that this number will have to increase to satisfy demand. The head of Greece’s Pneumonological Society, Constantinos Gourgoulianis, said there are plans to train more doctors later this year to assist smokers who want to kick the habit.