Austria’s new coalition government will roll back a planned smoking ban that was set to take effect next May.

The far-right Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) and the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP), a conservative party, are forming a new government and as part of it the latter is agreeing to stop large parts of a smoking ban that it itself passed as part of the current coalition government.

Austria’s minimum tobacco age will increase from 16 to 18 and those under 18 will not be allowed in smoking rooms, but the strictest parts of the rule will not be enacted, fulfilling a campaign pledge from the FPÖ.

The law, which was passed in 2015, was supposed to completely ban smoking in bars and restaurants, something that will no longer be the case.

Smoking will also be banned in cars with those under the age of 18 in the vehicle.

Avatar photo

Charlie Minato

I am an editor and co-founder of halfwheel.com/Rueda Media, LLC. I previously co-founded and published TheCigarFeed, one of the two predecessors of halfwheel. I have written about the cigar industry for more than a decade, covering everything from product launches to regulation to M&A. In addition, I handle a lot of the behind-the-scenes stuff here at halfwheel. I enjoy playing tennis, watching boxing, falling asleep to the Le Mans 24, wearing sweatshirts year-round and eating gyros. echte liebe.