Smoking ban in playgrounds: New protection for children throughout Austria!

Smoking ban in playgrounds: New protection for children throughout Austria!

The Austrian Health Minister Johannes Rauch is taking a clear turnaround in non-smoker protection with a new law on tobacco and non-smoker protection regulations. A comprehensive smoking ban is planned in all children's playgrounds in Austria in order to protect children from the dangers of passive smoke and the dangers of discarded cigarettes Today.at reported. The proposed law, which has already been in place since October 2022, will now be sent for review despite the lack of agreement with the coalition partner ÖVP in order to be voted on before the end of the legislative period. The aim of the law is to prevent tobacco poisoning in children by expanding the nicotine ban, which also includes nicotine pouches for young people.

New smoke-free zones in the EU

At the same time, there are efforts at EU level to expand smoke-free zones, which also goes hand in hand with the aim of protecting children and young people. The EU Commission has proposed banning smoking in recreational areas such as public playgrounds, swimming pools and bus stops, such as Zeit.de reported. This not only affects traditional tobacco products, but also new variants such as e-cigarettes.

Despite the great desire for comprehensive smoking bans, implementation is not entirely easy. There were recently difficulties in finding a common position in the EU Parliament, which led to a corresponding resolution being rejected. This is also reflected in the fact that the direct impact of such recommendations on Germany remains unclear, as each nation decides independently on health guidelines. The debates surrounding these measures reflect the need to ensure clear protection for the health of our younger generations, while at the same time raising concerns about possible economic impacts on the restaurant industry.