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Fumes and fire in German fag debate from Guardian Unlimited: News blog
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Guardian Unlimited: News blog
Wednesday January 31 2007
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Fumes and fire in German fag debate
By Guardian Unlimited / Europe 06:57pm
Germany may be renowned for its clean living ways but all is not as it seems, writes Jess Smee in Berlin.
The land which coined the phrase Frischluftfanatiker (fresh air fanatic) is a surprise laggard in the pan-European trend towards smoking bans.
This week, the long-rumbling debate about the Zigarette has been relit. It's now looking like the days of Germany's hazy bars and restaurants may be numbered.
Lothar Binding, a social democrat member of parliament, is reported by Suedduetsche.de to be planning to push for a new nationwide anti-smoking law, which could bring Germany in line with countries like Italy, Spain and Ireland where smoking is increasing an outdoor pursuit.
But, judging from past experience, Mr Binding faces an uphill struggle. In December, Germany's plans to legally curb smoking were shelved amid fears they would violate the country's constitution. Failure to reach a deal was also blamed on the behind-the-scenes efforts of a proactive tobacco lobby.
Following that flop, chancellor Angela Merkel has urged Germany's 16 states to push through their own laws but progress has been slow.
Showing how difficult the battle is, the best-selling Bild newspaper recently revealed that even the national parliament has failed to ban smoking within its own buildings. "They can't even pull it off in the Bundestag!" read the tabloid's splash headline.
But pressure is mounting. Tomorrow, France, home of Gauloises cigarettes and smoky hang outs, is putting an end to smoking in public places. Meanwhile, a recent discussion paper from the European Union backed wide-ranging smoking restrictions for all 27 members states. In support of its plans, the EU has warned that some 19,000 non-smokers die from passive smoking each year in the bloc.
But such figures still seem a long way off from the Cafe Adler, a traditional - and smoke filled - haunt just opposite Checkpoint Charlie in central Berlin.
The cafe, which once overlooked the Berlin wall, is now home to tired tourists, a splattering of locals and yellowing wallpaper. I order lunch. The smell of cigar smoke wafts into the packed backroom. Some American tourists at a next door table inquire if there is a no-smoking area. The waitress points to a discoloured no smoking sign nearby. "You're in it," she says.
Contemporaria
This post was last changed at 06:57 PM, January 31 2007, at a time when the top headline on Guardian Unlimited was Secret UN report condemns US for Middle East failures, and the top headline from the BBC was More 'chemical castrations' plan, and there were posts elsewhere tagged with these same keywords:
The post was written by Guardian Unlimited. You can email the author at editor@guardianunlimited.co.uk
Comments
I presume it will be known as the Binding Law. Boom tish.It's weird here. Ten years ago I travelled to Italy and Germany from Australia for the first time. I was appalled how smoking in Italy seemed to be legal pretty well everywhere and even where it wasn't (airports, stations) people did it. Now the Italians have got rid of it but the Germans are where the Italians were 10 years ago. Wer hдtt' denn das gedacht?
Posted by carlipops
on January 31, 2007 8:23 PM. Offensive? Unsuitable? Report this comment.
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