The smoking ban in Austrian restaurants is to be extended to “additional outdoor public places” in 2023, according to plans by Health Minister Johannes Rauch.
An amendment to the Tobacco and Non-Smoker Protection Act is “in final coordination,” derstandard.at reported.
At the beginning of 2023, the corresponding amendment is to go into the review, which provides for a smoking ban and “children’s playgrounds and recreational areas for children and young people.” If children are in the vehicle, the smoking ban in cars must also be “controlled” by the driver in the future.
Call for regulations on nicotine pouches
In Austria, cigarette smoking has been continuously restricted in recent years, for example, by the smoking ban in restaurants, which has been in force since November 1, 2019, a written statement from the Ministry of Health said. These steps have benefited the population’s health and are now widely accepted by society. In the department, it is essential to create regulations for other tobacco products, such as “nicotine pouches.”
Ministry: Further preventive measures must be discussed
Further preventive measures, such as a ban on smoking in public buildings and other public places, need to be widely discussed in society to gain the necessary acceptance, the ministry added. Still, a general ban on the sale of cigarettes in Austria from a particular year of birth is not currently under discussion.
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