Italy is introducing a bill that would ban smoking in all public places where people congregate and is considering becoming the first European country to sue the multi-national tobacco companies.

A heath ministry spokesman said "the aim is to turn the tables on the actual culture, in which 13 million people smoke, and turn the smoker in to a rarity."

The lucrative state-owned tobacco monopoly would not be targeted if Italy carries through with legal actions against tobacco companies.

难点词汇：
　　 congregate　聚集　　sue　提出诉讼　　lucrative　有利的　　monopoly　垄断