04/06/2023 08:57 (act. 04/06/2023 09:57)
Should smoking also be prohibited in guest gardens? ©APA, CanvaPro
Banning smoking outdoors? The debate about a possible ban on smoking in gardens and public places is gaining momentum.
The discussion on banning smoking in guest gardens and public spaces is being conducted in Austria and other European countries. Gesundheit Österreich GmbH pointed out that smoking, including secondhand smoke, is responsible for around 16% of all deaths. Although Austria is above average in a European comparison, around one in five Austrians still smoke a cigarette every day.
Strict smoking ban in Milan
Milan has already introduced a strict anti-pollution package since January 2021, which includes a ban on outdoor smoking. Smoking is prohibited at public transport stops, parks, sports facilities and cemeteries. As of January 2025, the smoking ban will be extended to all outdoor public urban areas. Infringements can be punished with fines from 40 to 240 euros.
Italy is discussing a ban on smoking in bars and parks
Italy’s health minister is planning to extend the ban on smoking outside bars and parks, but this is causing disagreement within the right-wing government. Some right-wing cabinet colleagues oppose that plan. Pregnant women and children should be given special protection with this extended smoking ban.
—>>> Smoking ban in Italy – fine of 600 euros
According to Eurostat, 19.7% of the EU population smokes daily (Eurostat, 2023). In 2019, 5.9% of people smoked 20 or more cigarettes a day, while 12.6% smoked less than 20 cigarettes a day (Eurostat, 2023). The countries with the highest consumption of tobacco in the EU are Bulgaria with 28.2 percent, followed by Turkey (27.3 percent), Greece (27.2 percent), Hungary (25.8 percent) and Latvia ( 24.9 percent). ) (Eurostat, 2023).
The lowest smoking rates in the EU
On the other hand, Sweden (9.3 percent), Iceland (11.2 percent), Finland (12.5 percent), Norway (12.9 percent) and Luxembourg (13.5 percent) have the lowest smoking rates in the EU (Eurostat, 2023).
Sweden has long campaigned against cigarette smoking and has banned smoking in bars and restaurants since 2005. The ban was extended in 2019 to include outdoor seating in bars and restaurants and in public places (Eurostat, 2023).
Men smoke more often
There is a gender difference in smoking in Europe, with men smoking more often than women. 22.3% of men aged 15 and over smoke daily, compared to 14.8% of women (Eurostat, 2023).
Countries with the highest tobacco consumption in Europe
The countries with the highest consumption of tobacco in Europe are Bulgaria with 28.2 percent, followed by Turkey (27.3 percent), Greece (27.2 percent), Hungary (25.8 percent) and Latvia ( 24.9 percent) (Eurostat, 2023).
In Romania, 30.6% of men smoke, compared to 7.5% of women. In Bulgaria, 37.6% of men and 20.7% of women smoke, while in Latvia 34.4% of men smoke against 12.1% of women (Eurostat, 2023). In some countries, the gender gap in smoking is narrowing or even reversing. In Sweden, despite the smoking ban, it is more difficult for women to stop smoking. In 2019, 6.8% of women still smoked, compared to 5.9% of men (Eurostat, 2023).
In Denmark, 11.7 percent of men and 11.8 percent of women smoke, while in Norway the difference is also small, with 11 percent of men and 9.4 percent of women smoking (Eurostat, 2023) . Figures show that the vast majority of daily smokers in the EU in 2019 (76.2%) had been smoking for at least 10 years. Of male daily smokers, 78.1 percent had smoked for at least 10 years, compared to 73.5 percent of females (Eurostat, 2023). The data show that smoking remains a relevant issue in the EU. While some countries struggle with high smoking rates, others have successfully taken steps to reduce tobacco consumption.
It remains to be seen how the discussion on banning smoking in guest gardens and public spaces will develop, both in Austria and in other European countries.