After a political zig zag course Austria passes public smoking ban

Austria | As of 1 November 2019, smoking in Austrian pubs and restaurants will be prohibited. The long-running issue, in a country among the last in Europe to hold out against a smoking ban, had initially appeared to be resolved with the implementation of the ban on 1 May 2018.

The ban had been agreed upon by a centre-left government in 2015. However, the decision was overturned in 2017 by the incoming centre-right coalition government at the behest of the right-wing populist Freedom Party.

Following the recent collapse of that coalition government and amidst continued pressure from medical and civil interest groups, the ban has reappeared on the political agenda and has now been realised. Only the Freedom Party voted against it in parliament on 2 July 2019.

The ban covers smoking at any public places where food and drink are prepared, served and consumed. It includes the use of e-cigarettes and shishas. Only in open-air beergardens may smokers still light up.

The blanket ban on smoking also makes Austria the first European country to prohibit shisha bars. An estimated 500 bars and 10,000 employees could be affected.