Austrian Smoking Ban to be Reduced

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.