Fight the smoke: Germany is planning a major ban on child protection!

Fight the smoke: Germany is planning a major ban on child protection!

A clear trend is emerging: the SPD and Green parties in the Bundestag are pushing for a comprehensive smoking ban in Germany. This project is based on the new smoking ban in France, which will come into force in July 2025. Neighbors prohibit smoking in public places such as parks, schools and beaches. The main reason? Protecting children from the harmful effects of passive smoking. Dagmar Schmidt, deputy parliamentary group leader of the SPD, sees the project as a courageous step towards health and child protection and emphasizes how sensitive children react to passive smoke.

“If children have to breathe the same air as smoking adults at bus stops or playgrounds, that is unacceptable,” says Schmidt. She is certain that such a ban would improve public health. Support also comes from Janosch Dahmen, health politician for the Green Party, who is calling for a smoke-free environment for children. He points to other strict measures in France, such as higher tobacco taxes and a comprehensive ban on advertising tobacco products. These measures are not only important for children, but are also intended to help reduce the annual costs of more than 30 billion euros caused by smoking-related illnesses.

Growing pressure for smoke-free zones

But the discussion doesn't end there. Health Minister Nina Warken from the CDU appeals to the federal states to also ban e-cigarettes and vape devices. These products contain dangerous substances and can be the gateway to addiction. The federal government has already taken steps to restrict the use of e-cigarettes at stations and on trains. However, the federal states are still responsible for schools, restaurants and hospitals.

The timing of this intense debate could hardly be more appropriate: it falls on World No Tobacco Day on May 31st. On this day, the importance of non-smoking areas is particularly highlighted. The European Commission recently published recommendations encouraging EU member states to expand non-smoking zones in certain outdoor areas. These include, among other things, playgrounds and public facilities. Vice President Margaritis Schinas emphasizes that lifestyle changes can play a crucial role in preventing disease.

A look into the future

EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides draws attention to the alarming figure of 700,000 annual deaths due to tobacco consumption, including a significant number from passive smoking. The new measures are primarily intended to help protect children and young people. Work is underway to achieve a tobacco-free generation by 2040 with a sophisticated prevention toolkit designed to support the implementation of the recommendations. The goal is to reduce tobacco consumption to less than five percent.

However, the integration of these steps into national legislation is at the discretion of the Member States. Nevertheless, it is clear that the pressure to create a smoke-free future for our children is growing. Developments in Germany are promising and could have a positive impact on the health of future generations. It remains to be seen how quickly and whether all of these measures will find their way into German law.

For more information on the current developments surrounding the smoking ban, you can read the reports from South German newspaper, Daily Wrap and EU representation in Germany visit.