Health Minister plans tougher rules against nicotine and tobacco!

Health Minister plans tougher rules against nicotine and tobacco!

On January 15, 2025, Health Minister Johannes Rauch presented a groundbreaking draft to amend the Tobacco and Nicotine Addiction Act, which aims to prevail despite resistance from the ÖVP. In an initial reaction, Ralph Schallmeiner and Barbara Neßler from the Greens confirmed that protecting children and young people from the profit interests of the tobacco industry is a priority. Among other things, the draft provides for nationwide regulation of nicotine pouches, which are becoming increasingly popular among young people. Schallmeiner calls for immediate action to limit the availability of addictive products such as nicotine pouches, which specifically target young people and entice younger generations with their colorful packaging.

Ban on smoking in playgrounds called for

Another central concern of the draft law is the planned ban on smoking in children's playgrounds. This should apply nationwide to protect the health of the little ones. While smoking is already prohibited in front of schools and kindergartens, protection in playgrounds remains inadequate. Schallmeiner criticized the ÖVP's years of inaction on this matter and emphasized that the current proposals send a clear signal for a sustainable health policy. The bill would require nicotine pouches to be subject to the same regulations as cigarettes, including age limits and advertising restrictions.

In its current study from 2023, the Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA) found an encouraging development in tobacco consumption among young people in Germany. The smoking rate among 12 to 17 year olds is currently just 6.8 percent, which is a historic low. This positive trend is also due to the fact that more and more young people have never smoked - in 2023 this proportion will already be 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 study's findings underscore the importance of effective legislation to further reduce the use of tobacco and nicotine-containing products among young people, such as rauchfrei-info.de reported.