German high court rules smoking ban "unconstitutional"

Wednesday, July 30 2008

In this report posted at The Telegraph (UK) online (www.telegraph.co.uk), Germany's top court ruled that its natinoal smoking ban, which took effect earlier this year is unconstitutional.

The ruling came after a case brought by the owner of two small bars, who claim that their business has been unfairly hit by the smoking ban.

Introduced in patchwork fashion across the country's 16 federal states earlier this year, Germany's smoking ban has been poorly received by often tobacco-friendly Germans, about a third of whom smoke.

The laws have often been ignored or barely enforced, with the owners of small bars and restaurants claiming that their businesses were threatened by the legislation.
German court overturns smoking ban