Italian Health Minister Girolamo Sirchia on Friday continued his bid to curb public smoking in Italy, warning smokers that he was lobbying for higher cigarette taxes.

The architect of a new law banning smoking in indoor public places, said in an interview published by Il Giornale daily that an increase in cigarette taxes would help deter smoking, particularly among youngsters.

"I have suggested raising taxes - not in a heavy way but in a progressive way because that's a way to stop smoking spreading, especially among young people," said Sirchia, a prominent haematologist and transplant expert.

The 71-year-old former smoker said that youngsters would "think twice" before taking up smoking if prices increased.

Noting that many kids begin smoking at 12 and 13, he said that "smoking makes them feel grown up but when it comes to forking out more money, it could force them to reconsider."

Some 14 million Italians are smokers, or more than 25 percent of the population. Italy's new smoking law, which came into effect on January 10, is one of the toughest in Europe and has virtually ended smoking in cafes, restaurants, bars and clubs.

Any establishment wishing to cater to smokers - and there is no obligation to do this - must have separate rooms for them with automatically closing doors and smoke extractors.

Smoking is also now banned from all work places.

Preliminary figures issued indicated that cigarette sales have plunged 23 percent since the ban was imposed on January 10.

(Xinhua News Agency January 22, 2005)