[Intl-tobacco] Germany to "restrict" smoking from 2007 - minister

[robert weissman]

      Saturday July 22, 9:19 PM


    Germany to restrict smoking from 2007 - minister

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany is likely to introduce a ban on smoking in
public buildings such as hospitals next year, consumer affairs minister
Horst Seehofer told a newspaper, adding that the grand coalition would
draft a law after the summer break.

"I am assuming we will have a ban in the course of 2007," Seehofer told
the Tagesspiegel am Sonntag newspaper, according to a version of the
interview released on Saturday.

The proposed ban, which has met resistance in tolerant Germany, would
initially apply to public buildings such as government offices, old
peoples' homes and hospitals, but the coalition will also discuss
whether it should be extended to restaurants and cafes.