german state baden-wurttemberg Smoking in public places is being tightened further with a new package of laws coming into effect at the beginning of June.
One notable change has turned what was already a house rule into a strict law at many pools across the country – smoking is no longer allowed in outdoor swimming pools.
Operators are allowed to set up small smoking areas for patrons, provided they do not disturb other swimmers – a move that is controversial in some quarters.
The new restrictions also apply to other common gathering places for young children, such as playgrounds, bus and tram stops, theme parks and zoos. The latter two, like the outdoor pools, may provide small smoking areas.
Meanwhile, smoking areas will not be allowed at public transport stops.
The new rules will also affect some public indoor spaces. For example, hotels will no longer be allowed to offer smoking rooms.
Outdoor customer areas in pubs and restaurants, football stadiums and festival tents remain areas where the question of whether to allow smoking is fundamentally up to the owners or operators.
The rules also apply to various types of vaping and e-cigarettes or e-hookahs, regardless of whether these smoke-emitting devices are actually used. TobaccoNicotine or Cannabis.
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Edited by: Roshni Majumdar