Smoking Ban in Berlin?

Smokers will feel the pinch of Berlin's incoming government's policy on smoking, after it committed to propose legislation to ban smoking in the city's bars, cafes and public places.

Germany supposedly lags behind other European Union member states in terms of introducing nationwide bans on smoking in public buildings, schools, universities and on public transport.

The move in Berlin will be seen as a first step in catching up to fellow member states, but as yet no concrete evidece has been presented on how the government will implement such a ban. Preventing any smoker from sparking a fag whilst sipping away at their latte or beer can be in many ways quite an arduous task.

The Berlin government might want to keep that in mind when it decides on the consequences that will be implemented upon those who, irrespective of time or place, can't resist a fix of their beloved "cancer stick".

And to those who may be holding their breath in anticipation of the Berlin government's definition of "public spaces", take note: along with bars and cafes, public buildings, hospitals and restaurants will all be smoke free if the Social Democrats get their way.