| Smoking ban in pubs is repealed in Saxony
Constitutional court of German Federal Land Saxony partly repealed the action of the law of non smokers protection at March, 27. The court upheld the claim of the owners of small pubs situated in one place which cannot be divided in zones for smokers and non smokers.
After the smoking ban in public places was put into force the turnovers of these establishments reduced at 70% taking into consideration the fact that the overwhelming majority of pubs clients are inveterate smokers, and nonsmokers protection laws do not allow them to combine tobacco and drinks. The judges agreed with the argument according to which smoking ban is interference in freedom of professional activity realization.
Since the 1st of 2007 smoking ban has been put into force in Germany. This ban is applied to all buildings where national departments and federal establishments are situated, besides it is applied to the public places and public transport. Also the order of tobacco and cigarettes retail is also toughened. Tobacco products can be purchased only by adults. Now cigarettes in cigarette vending machines are sold only by plastic cards identifying the age of the smoker. It was also reported about considerable losses of casino owners. According to the data from Wirtschaftswoche edition, proceeds from gambling in Hamburg, Lawer Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein reduced at 25-30% in January, 2008 in comparison with the same month of the last year.
In the majority of federal lands it was decided to introduce restrictions for smokers, providing that smoking was allowed only in special rooms separated from another part of the place. In Saxony since the February 2008 smoking is banned in public institutions, hospitals, schools, restaurants, cafes and bars. The exceptions are made for public catering establishments and bars in which special smoking rooms are equipped for cigarette smokers.
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