Dunkirk101
12-11-2006, 06:08 AM
..in public places, but not in bars
Merkel wants smoking ban in German restaurants, not in bars Sun Dec 10, 2:57 PM ET
BERLIN (AFP) - Chancellor Angela Merkel said she wants smoking banned in Germany's government buildings, train stations, airports and restaurants, but not in bars.
http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/6105/merkelpa4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
"Discussions will be long," Merkel, who gave up smoking herself in 1992, warned in an interview with ARD television to be aired on Monday.
She said that banning smoking in ministries and administration buildings of the federal government would, however, be a formality.
Germany is widely regarded as a smokers' paradise in Europe.
The German government confirmed on Friday it had rejected proposals to introduce a nationwide ban on smoking in restaurants and schools, putting it out of step with other European Union countries.
The government will on Wednesday instead propose vastly limited proposals for a ban covering only government buildings, the health ministry has said.
The decision on bans to cover other public places is now likely to be left up to the regional authorities of Germany's 16 states.
A slew of Berlin's EU partners, beginning with Ireland in 2004 and including Norway, Malta, Italy and Spain, have banned smoking in bars, restaurants and other public places.
Britain and France have also passed legislation or decrees to ban smoking in public places.
About 140,000 Germans die each year from tobacco-related illnesses.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20061210/lf_afp/afplifestylegermany
Merkel wants smoking ban in German restaurants, not in bars Sun Dec 10, 2:57 PM ET
BERLIN (AFP) - Chancellor Angela Merkel said she wants smoking banned in Germany's government buildings, train stations, airports and restaurants, but not in bars.
http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/6105/merkelpa4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
"Discussions will be long," Merkel, who gave up smoking herself in 1992, warned in an interview with ARD television to be aired on Monday.
She said that banning smoking in ministries and administration buildings of the federal government would, however, be a formality.
Germany is widely regarded as a smokers' paradise in Europe.
The German government confirmed on Friday it had rejected proposals to introduce a nationwide ban on smoking in restaurants and schools, putting it out of step with other European Union countries.
The government will on Wednesday instead propose vastly limited proposals for a ban covering only government buildings, the health ministry has said.
The decision on bans to cover other public places is now likely to be left up to the regional authorities of Germany's 16 states.
A slew of Berlin's EU partners, beginning with Ireland in 2004 and including Norway, Malta, Italy and Spain, have banned smoking in bars, restaurants and other public places.
Britain and France have also passed legislation or decrees to ban smoking in public places.
About 140,000 Germans die each year from tobacco-related illnesses.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20061210/lf_afp/afplifestylegermany