Discourse on Proposed European Ban for Outdoor Smoking

In a bid to safeguard public health, the European Union (EU) Parliament has set an ambitious goal: to create a "smoke-free generation" by the year 2040. This initiative, if successful, would significantly reduce the smoking rate within the EU to less than 5%.

The proposed ban, which aims to affect the 450 million inhabitants of the EU, is motivated by the harm caused to non-smokers by passive smoking, particularly affecting pregnant women and children. The ban would prohibit smoking at parks, Christmas markets, beer gardens, terraces, bars, public buildings, and beaches, among other public places.

Countries such as France and Germany are already on board with this policy. France implemented an extensive outdoor smoking ban in public parks, beaches, bus stops, school surroundings, sports facilities, swimming pools, and libraries on July 1, 2025. Germany, specifically the Bavarian CSU party, advocates extending existing tobacco smoking bans to cover e-cigarettes, e-shishas, and heated tobacco products for increased health protection, especially for children and youth.

The German government currently earns around 14.7 billion euros annually from tobacco taxes. However, the ban could potentially impact these revenues. The Federation of European Taxpayers has raised questions about the impact of the smoking ban on affected businesses.

The details about the smoking ban do not include information about advertisements. It is uncertain how European governments will implement the smoking ban in their respective countries, or who will be responsible for paying possible fines in case of smoking violations - the innkeeper or the guest.

Every innkeeper may be required to ensure no smoking in front of their establishment, regardless of whether the person is a guest or a passerby. The enforcement of the smoking ban by the Members of the European Parliament is uncertain.

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