A Smoke-Free 2008?

DW-WORLD.DE: Why has Germany not yet introduced a smoking ban? What's the problem?

Sabine Bätzing: We're somewhat late with legislation to protect people against smoking and a legal smoking ban, but there's been a clear change of public opinion, especially since last year, and now we're on the way. There's agreement when it comes to day-care centers, schools and the public sphere that, in any case, a general smoking ban should be implemented there. The only area where there are still difficulties is in the area of catering. We expect an agreement at the non-smoking summit.

Why did this change of opinion come about?

People noticed that in Italy and Ireland smoke-free catering works superbly. When people go on vacation and experience it, they notice that the atmosphere is nice there. Ever fewer people smoke in Germany, so there's a change of opinion toward more protection of non-smokers, of health.

Why has Germany taken so long?

Particularly when it comes to catering, it's largely about fears. In the talks I've held, caterers' fears have surfaced repeatedly: that they will suffer from a loss of business if people don't go to their restaurants or bars because there's a smoking ban.

However, we can rebuff these fears as baseless by referring to Italy and to Ireland, where there are already comprehensive smoking bans, but where, despite the bans, business has not fallen. On the contrary, business has even increased; people are pleased with the smoking ban in catering. In Ireland, 98 percent of the people concur with and endorse the legislation. So we should also take this brave step for the legal protection of non-smokers in the catering business, too.

How much influence does the tobacco lobby have? Is it not behind the resistance from the catering sector?

Personally, I don't see it that way. My experience is that it's not so strong that one can't push through one's political aims. We've also done so in the past years and demonstrated it many times, for instance, with the hike in tobacco tax, which we increased in three steps. That wouldn't have been possible if the tobacco lobby was as strong as it's always portrayed.

As I said, I see it as being fears, as being preconceptions, and that here we must send a very clear political signal that the time of voluntary commitments -- which we have been relying on so far -- is past, because it's very, very difficult to control protection of non-smokers here in Germany in the catering branch. And that's why we want to regulate it through legislation, and the people who are responsible politically have also made that clear.

The least that one would expect would be to protect children and sick people from smoke. What arguments are employed to oppose a smoking ban in public buildings, such as schools or hospitals?

No one rejects that anymore -- at least publicly. Particularly when it comes to schools and hospitals there's been agreement to declare a general smoking ban, which I welcome. It's truly an issue of protecting health, and children and people who are ill especially need protection.

Do you expect a smoking ban to be introduced in steps? Say, first in clubs, then in public buildings and later in restaurants and bars?

Initially, the federal government will regulate the area of federal facilities and federal transport … and the states will make their regulations for schools, day-care centers and hospitals. And then there's the question of what form the regulation for the catering sector will take and whether the bars will be included in it. I think that will be the case, when it comes to setting minimum standards for the catering sector. I think clubs will in any case also be included in the first step when it comes to protecting non-smokers in the catering, because particularly in clubs, the amount of particulate matter is much, much higher and thus that much more damaging. There is agreement that clubs should be included as well.

Germany has been talking about introducing a smoking ban for years. Will it become a reality -- and when?

I think it'll come. I think we'll be able to ring in 2008 smoke-free. That's the aim, in any case. It's true that it's taken a long time; we've been discussing it for a long time. As I said, since last year there's been a clear change of public opinion. Two-thirds of the population wants greater protection against smoking, smoke-free catering. Thus I'm confident that deeds will follow so that we can enjoy 2008 with smoke-free catering and a smoke-free public sphere.