Smoking in Germany
Aug 13th, 2009, 01:26 PM
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Smoking in Germany
What is the staus of smoking in restaurants and other public places in Germany? We are spending two weeks along the Rhine and Mosel in September. When we were in Germany ten years ago, restaurants were often smoke filled. I know many parts of Germany have passed smoke-free laws and am wondering what the situation is where we will be traveling.
Aug 13th, 2009, 02:17 PM
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There are no nationwide laws in Germany, since that issue is in the domain of the States. In general, restaurants are not considered "public places" but privately-owned businesses.
That section of the Rhine you will probably visit, and the Mosel, are in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
In Rhineland-Palatinate, restaurants, bars, etc. with more than one room can dedicate the smallest one as their smoking room, if there is a barrier (in normal language: solid wall) to the other sections.
That regulation was supposed to apply to any kind of restaurant or bar (not just those with more than one room), but the Constitutional Court ruled that it would be unfair to small single-room establishments (since they would lose their smoking customers to multi-room establishments which would have been able to offer one room for smoking).
So, in owner-operated single-room establishments (i.e. very small pubs or bars) with no employees, the owner can decide whether his establishment is either non-smoking or smoking. In the latter case, you will see a sticker at the pub's or bar's entrance telling you that the place is smoking, and guests under 18 are not allowed inside.
Obviously, these regulations apply only to indoors.
If the owner of an establishment decides to turn his pub or bar into a private club with mandatory membership, the above mentioned regulations do not apply. But you cannot stumble into those by accident since you have to buy some sort of membership at the door. And you will usually see a sticker saying "Raucherclub" (Smokers' Club) at the door.
Train stations are non-smoking, except for small 3x3 meter sections on overground platforms at major stations.
Trains, no matter if urban, regional, or long-distance, are non-smoking without any exceptions.
Theaters and movie theaters have been smoke-free for years now.
Beyond that, I cannot think of any public places that could be of interest for a tourist, since you probably/ hopefully won't need to spend time at city hall or a hospital (but those would be non-smoking).
That section of the Rhine you will probably visit, and the Mosel, are in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
In Rhineland-Palatinate, restaurants, bars, etc. with more than one room can dedicate the smallest one as their smoking room, if there is a barrier (in normal language: solid wall) to the other sections.
That regulation was supposed to apply to any kind of restaurant or bar (not just those with more than one room), but the Constitutional Court ruled that it would be unfair to small single-room establishments (since they would lose their smoking customers to multi-room establishments which would have been able to offer one room for smoking).
So, in owner-operated single-room establishments (i.e. very small pubs or bars) with no employees, the owner can decide whether his establishment is either non-smoking or smoking. In the latter case, you will see a sticker at the pub's or bar's entrance telling you that the place is smoking, and guests under 18 are not allowed inside.
Obviously, these regulations apply only to indoors.
If the owner of an establishment decides to turn his pub or bar into a private club with mandatory membership, the above mentioned regulations do not apply. But you cannot stumble into those by accident since you have to buy some sort of membership at the door. And you will usually see a sticker saying "Raucherclub" (Smokers' Club) at the door.
Train stations are non-smoking, except for small 3x3 meter sections on overground platforms at major stations.
Trains, no matter if urban, regional, or long-distance, are non-smoking without any exceptions.
Theaters and movie theaters have been smoke-free for years now.
Beyond that, I cannot think of any public places that could be of interest for a tourist, since you probably/ hopefully won't need to spend time at city hall or a hospital (but those would be non-smoking).
Aug 14th, 2009, 01:55 AM
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Be aware - Germans don't know the term "personal comfort zone" and as such don't care.
If a German is smoking outside a restaurant - or anywhere "al fresco" and someone else is going to approach him stating "you are interfering with my personal comfort zone - pls exstinguish your cigarette" he most probably will burst into loughter.
My advise: When you travel to Rome do as the Romans do.
Enjoy your travels - you will LOVE it!
SV
If a German is smoking outside a restaurant - or anywhere "al fresco" and someone else is going to approach him stating "you are interfering with my personal comfort zone - pls exstinguish your cigarette" he most probably will burst into loughter.
My advise: When you travel to Rome do as the Romans do.
Enjoy your travels - you will LOVE it!
SV
