Germany to ban public smoking?

Whether watching football or meeting with friends, having a smoke in German restaurants and bars is commonplace and has always been accepted as a person's personal right. Until now.

A group bill has been put forward by Bundestag MP Lothar Binding (SPD) calling for an end to smoking in all public areas without exception from 1 January 2007. The MPs supporting the bill, who come from both sides of german politics, are confident of a result when the vote is put to the general assembly of the Bundestag in the coming weeks.

Elsewhere in Europe general public smoking bans are becoming increasingly more prevalent. Extensive bans already exist in Ireland, Norway and Sweden. In England, Westminster is currently also discussing a public smoking ban. In Germany, gastronomy and hotel unions remain concerned that a general ban on smoking will reduce their trade. Initial investigations, done in Ireland, have shown otherwise however. A report from the World Health Organisation actually showed Irish gastronomy profits increased as a result of the ban. Guests had more money to spend on alcohol, so the report claimed. al