Munich Votes to Ban Smoking in All Pubs, Restaurants and Beer Tents

The Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich is getting ready to become smoke-free after voters in the southern German state of Bavaria chose a complete ban on smoking. With ballots counted in all 96 districts, the anti-smoking camp had 61 percent of the vote although turnout was a low 37.7 percent. A simple majority was needed for victory.

The result will lead to new rules that will ban smoking in all pubs, restaurants and beer tents, without exception.

Existing laws allow smokers to light up in beer tents and pubs with special smoking rooms.

The referendum, in which about 9.4 million people were eligible to vote, sparked a furious debate with those in favour of a total ban arguing on emotive health grounds and those against putting forward arguments about freedom of choice.

Those in favour of stamping out smoking hope a ban in Bavaria will lead to stricter rules across the country where various loopholes in smoking legislation have led to existing rules being only weakly enforced.

Smokers heading for this year's 200th anniversary of the beer-guzzling Oktoberfest should not necessarily leave their cigarettes at home, however.

According to local media, authorities have already announced any potential ban would not be in force for this year's festival, which last year attracted 5.7 million visitors from all around the world.

Source-AFP