Sunday, August 03 2008
According to this article in The Local online (www.thelocal.de), a large number of Germans are in favor of a "comprehensive smoking ban" as opposed to having state-by-state regulation. Moreover, a national Emid Institute survey on the subject revealed that 81% of the respondents would prefer that the federal government "set rules on smoking in bars and restuarants."
Roland Koch, premier of the German state of Hesse, told the newspaper he would open talks with other state premiers on a comprehensive ban. Koch promised to put the issue on the agenda of the next meeting of state premiers in Dresden in October.
"It is sensible for the states to reach as much of an amicable consensus on non-smoker protection as possible and to prevent a patchwork of regulations across the country," Koch said. "We should also agree not to turn this into a political debate."
The German Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe overturned smoking bans in the German states of Baden-Württemberg and Berlin on Wednesday, unleashing debate on how the country should address regulations on smoking.
Germans favour national smoking ban
