EU demands a ban on smoking outdoors - what does that mean for Bavaria?

EU demands a ban on smoking outdoors - what does that mean for Bavaria?

München, Deutschland - The Health Minister of the European Union recently pronounced a profound recommendation for outdoor smoking bans. This was explained by the European Ministry of Health in Brussels on December 3, with the Federal Government contained in the vote on the EU Commission's proposals. This recommendation aims to set up smoke -free zones at places such as playgrounds, bus stops and outdoors in the catering trade. The debate about such restrictions indicates that the EU tries to reduce the proportion of smokers to less than five percent by 2040 in order to improve protection against passive smoke, as can be seen from another report in which the goal of a "tobacco -free generation" was clearly outlined.

Despite the current recommendations, many Member States, including Germany, do not seem to be willing to take over these rules. Bavaria's Minister of Health Judith Gerlach expressed that the Free State has extensive non -smoking protection measures and therefore does not see any acute need for action. In addition, Thomas Steffen, State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Health, stated that in Germany the federal states - not the EU - are responsible for the implementation of such bans. As a result, the suggestions came across mixed reactions and were rejected as "too indifferent". This discrepancy is underpinned by the perspective of some MPs, which criticize an equality of e-cigarettes and conventional cigarettes that are too strict, since the latter are more evident.

protection against passive smoke and young generation in view

Another aspect of the newly proposed measures is the treatment of e-cigarettes such as tobacco products. This leads to intensive discussions in the European Parliament, where some members fear that strict regulations can also cause possible economic damage to e-cigarettes. The EU Commission is now pushing for a revision of the criteria for smoke-free zones with the aim of increasing the protection of young people and children. From this perspective, a far-reaching ban on e-cigarettes and tobacco products is supported in order to reduce the high numbers of premature cancer deaths in the EU. In this context, EU Commissioner Helena Dalli finds that 700,000 people in the EU die from the consequences of smoking and that more than half of the smokers under the age of 19 have started smoking, which illustrates the urgency of measures.

More details on the suggestions and reactions at European level can also be read in the article by Merkur