Tuesday, November 26, 2024

The EU and Smoking

 The EU is having a 'discussion'....if they can regulate smoking out-doors (mostly in  public areas).

How this conversation arrived?  Well...they regulated public situations during Covid, and there is a belief that they can regulate smoking in such dynamics.

The statistics on Germans who smoke?  From women, it's near 20-percent and from men...near 27-percent. (2023 numbers)

The Vape-crowd....if you were interested?  It's around 2-percent (1.5-million)

The problem I see?  You have three situations which could pop up:

1.  The railway station smokers.  Right now in most stations.....there is a smoker's 'corner'....inside of the station....where you can stop and take a smoke.  That would be deleted under the EU regulation.

2.  Shopping district smokers.  Right now....in all corners of shopping districts....people vape and smoke.  I would imagine with the EU mandate.....that would conclude.

3.  Cafe smokers. In the outdoor areas....within cafe districts, to some degree, you can smoke.  I've been at  outdoor restaurants where they said NO smoking.

All of this getting public chatter?  More than likely.  The question I would put out there....if Covid-mandating/regulating goes to this step....what else would be in the future of EU control?  Open hours of pubs/bars? No alcohol sales within airports?  

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