Many are now ignoring the German smoking ban in force since Jan 1st this year, affecting Berlin and 11 states. The remaining states of Saxony, Rheinland Palatinate, Saarland and Thuringia will bring in their own ban from July, although it remains to be seen how effective it will be. Recent data showed that a similar smoking ban in Hong Kong had actually increased the level of smoking as people defied the ban.

Smoking Complaints
German Police are not following up on complaints about smokers and seem to have allowed the bar and cafe proprietors their own discretion on whether they allow smoking on premises.

Strictly speaking the proprietors can be fined of up to 1500 euro per violation, but it is not seen as a priority by police. Neighbouring country France banned smoking in a draconian measure this year in all places where food is served, we hope to publish an update on France later this year.

Das Bild reports that a Gerhard Gruenberg, a Berlin cafe proprietor, received two black eyes from an angry customer who refused a request to go outside to smoke.

Smokers Defecting
Border towns in Poland and the Czech Republic are now full of daytripping happy Germans puffing away in their uninhibited bars and taverns and are delighted by the unexpected upturn in business.

Ban Pointless
Gerard Janssen owner of the Oberholz cafe in Berlin said there was no point in following the rules: "We banned smoking for the first week of January but when we realised other cafes in the area were still allowing it, we did too," he said. "We decided to give our patrons the opportunity to smoke again."