Germany shelves smoking ban over concerns it may breach their Constitution

[Bluebear]

Because we haven't had a good smoking discussion for at least an hour. :evilgrin:

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The German government has shelved plans for a nationwide ban on smoking in restaurants because of concerns it may breach the country's constitution, officials confirmed Friday.

The cabinet will instead approve a ban on smoking in federal ministries and agencies in a watered down version of a proposal agreed by a government working group a week ago, a health ministry spokesman said.

In its meeting next Wednesday, the cabinet is expected to urge Germany's federal states to implement measures curtailing smoking in schools, hospitals, restaurants and day-care centres...

"The Irish are still able to drink Guinness all night long and sing cheerful songs even though you are not allowed to smoke there," Kunast said in reference to the smoking ban introduced by Prime Minister Bertie Ahern's government in 2004.

http://www.playfuls.com/news_10_4855-ROUNDUP-Germany-Shelves-Plans-For-Uniform-Smoking-Ban.html

[Cascadian]

1. A great day for the civl libertarians

I am a non-smoker but I have always believed in letting the market decide this one. There ought to be non-smoking bars and bars for smokers. More people are quitting or never starting up so eventually smoking in bars would be phased out at some point. I think government money would be better spend on education and helping people who want to quit.


Just my take.


John

[RC Quake]

2. It definately is strange in Germany

You can smoke anywhere and everywhere. But then again...the restaurants are also open to canines. It's quite amusing seeing the "hund" section designation.

[Bluebear]

3. I love the hund section :) nt

[newyawker99]

4. Hi RC Quake!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[jmowreader]

6. Not QUITE anywhere and everywhere

All the light rail is non-smoking.

Something I loved about Germany...our first sergeant needed to go to the hospital to get a hernia fixed, and the Army hospital couldn't take him because it was full (two of the five floors were closed for renovations) so he got sent to a German hospital. They fixed his hernia and admitted him for two weeks because they KNEW this guy would never stay away from work if they didn't. A few of us NCOs decided to visit him one day, and we caught him while they were serving dinner. On his tray was a beer. We had to ask...if the patient's medications or condition don't conflict with drinking a beer with your dinner, they bring you one.

Six months later, one of our number fell off an antenna and broke his hip. They put him in the Army hospital, and they wouldn't bring him a beer with dinner. Nor would they let us bring him any. Or transfer him to a German hospital so he could have beer. Our guy was not pleased.

[InvisibleTouch]

5. If any place needs a smoking ban...

...it's Germany! It always amazes me, for a nation that's so health-conscious and socially aware in most other things, how many people of all age groups smoke. Going to a restaurant is almost intolerable.

I do love the "dogs allowed" policy, though. Now that's what we should have in the U.S.!