Vienna - After months of intra-coalition wrangling,
Austria's government on Wednesday agreed on introducing smoking bans
in cafes and restaurants by January 1, 2009.
Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer said the compromise found between
Social Democrats and the conservative People's Party was a 'step in
the right direction.'
The ban is, however, far from total, as restaurants will still be
able to have smoking sections, albeit in separate rooms. At least 50
per cent of a restaurant's space must be non-smoking the government
compromise said.
Restaurants, bars or cafes smaller than 50 square metres will have
to decide whether to go all non-smoking or remain cigarette-friendly.
Businesses of a size between 50 and 80 square metres must either
introduce a physical separation of smokers and non-smokers or decide
for one option.
Austria's new smoking legislation, which is expected to be rubber-
stamped by parliament also introduced stronger workplace health
regulations for employees working in the hospitality business.
In case of violations of the smoking ban, the law foresees fines
for both restaurant owners and guests, ranging between 100 and 1,000
euros for patrons and between 2,000 and 10,000 euros for owners.
Previous attempts at introducing a complete ban on smoking had
failed owing to fierce resistance by the country's restaurant and
tobacco lobbies, who both feared massive losses for their business.
The rules are less strict than in many other European countries,
but politicians from both government parties said the Austrian
solution showed 'common sense.'
Austria's restaurant owners welcomed the deals, while the
country's doctors showed disappointment over the lax rules.
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