The German government is studying the possibility of tightening the youth protection law. As stated in the Ministry of Consumer Protection, the idea is to sell cigarettes to young people not from age 16 but from 18. 'This consideration arose in light of the ongoing public debate on smoking bans,' explained Gerd Müller, State Secretary of the Bundestag for Consumer Protection.
Representatives of German trade have already stated their disagreement with the tightening of the law. The German Hotel and Restaurant Association (Deutsche Hotel- und Gaststattenverband - DEHOGA) opposed the initiative of Minister of Consumer Protection Horst Seehofer for a general smoking ban in restaurants. As the association's managing director Ingrid Hartges said in an interview with the newspaper Neue Presse: 'We are responsible for achieving the agreed goal of protecting non-smokers, and we expect the government to remain faithful to agreements.' According to Hartges, catering businesses should be given until March 1, 2007, to show that they can expand their non-smoker service program without a legal mandate.
At one time, the 'red-green' government concluded an agreement with the association on the protection of non-smokers, which provides for a phased solution to the problem. After the deadline, from the beginning of March 2007, approximately half of the seats in public premises should be designated for non-smokers. In addition, Hartges demanded that businesses, while retaining the greatest possible freedom of decision, could shape their offerings so that both smokers and non-smokers feel like welcome guests.
Minister of Consumer Protection Horst Seehofer is currently examining the legal possibilities of introducing a smoking ban in restaurants and public places. 'A draft law already exists,' said State Secretary of the Ministry Gert Lindemann. According to information from the ministry, the boundaries of a possible ban have not yet been discussed. It has also not been decided whether smoking will be banned in public institutions, as well as in universities and schools. This will have to be discussed with the federal states. The World Health Organization (WHO) believes that only a complete ban on smoking in public places is effective.
However, the Federation of Belgian Enterprises (FEB) does not intend to refuse smokers employment on the advice of a European Commission member.
Earlier, European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Vladimír Špidla stated that in EU countries, to combat smoking in enterprises or companies, employers are fully entitled to refuse smokers employment. According to Špidla, no existing EU laws would be violated with this approach.
'We consider it pointless to refuse employment on this basis. We might as well not hire people who engage in potentially health-threatening sports in their free time,' said FSB representative Chris de Meyer in this regard. 'Moreover, our enterprises are already experiencing a shortage of skilled personnel,' he added.