Minister of Health plans harder rules for nicotine and tobacco!

Minister of Health plans harder rules for nicotine and tobacco!

Laimgrubengasse 10, 1060 Wien, Österreich - On January 15, 2025, the Health Minister Johannes Rauch presented a pioneering draft for the novella of Tobacco and Nicotine Addiction Act, which wants to prevail on the part of the ÖVP despite resistance. Ralph Schallmeiner and Barbara Neßler from the Greens confirmed in a first reaction that the protection of children and adolescents from the professional interests of the tobacco industry was priority. Among other things, the draft provides a nationwide regulation of nicotine bags that are increasingly popular with young people. Schallmeiner calls for immediate action to limit the availability of addictive products such as Nicotin Pouches, which specifically address young people and tempt you to generate younger generations.

smoking ban on playgrounds required

Another central concern of the draft law is the planned smoking ban on children's playgrounds. This should apply nationwide to protect the health of the little ones. While smoking is already prohibited from schools and kindergartens, protection in playgrounds has so far remained inadequate. Schallmeiner criticized the long -term inactivity of the ÖVP on this matter and emphasizes that the current proposals set a clear sign of a sustainable health policy. The draft law stipulates that nicotine bags are subject to the same regulations as cigarettes, including age limits and advertising restrictions.

The Federal Center for Health Education (BZGA) has found a pleasant development in the tobacco consumption of young people in Germany in its current study in 2023. The smoking rate for 12- to 17-year-olds is currently only 6.8 percent, which represents a historical low. This positive tendency is also due to the fact that more and more young people have never smoked - in 2023 this proportion is already around 83 percent. In contrast, however, around 26.3 percent of 18 to 25 year olds smoke, which indicates that there is still a need for action. The results of the study underline the importance of effective laws to further reduce the consumption of tobacco and nicotine-containing products among young people, as it is reported Rauchfrei-info.de