NICOSIA, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Thirty-three nightclub owners in Cyprus were charged this weekend with allowing customers to smoke at will inside their premises, Cyprus Sunday Mail reported on Sunday.

    Health officials raided 26 nightclubs in Nicosia, the island's capital, with another seven in the southeastern port city of Larnaca, finding various violations of anti-smoking law and regulations.

    In the eastern Mediterranean state, restaurants, cafes, bars and clubs are allowed to have a designated smoking area as long as there is sufficient ventilation. No smoking areas must also be clearly marked and health warnings regarding the dangers of smoking in plain sight.

    Owners of establishments in violation of the law could face a fine of 1,000 Cyprus pounds (about 2,300 U.S. dollars) and/or up to six months imprisonment.

    In March 2004, another European Union country Ireland went even further by imposing an outright ban on smoking in workplaces, pubs and restaurants, which encouraged other countries to draft plans to establish similar laws.