Politicians from Germany’s governing coalition are calling for stricter smoking regulations in public spaces, including comprehensive outdoor smoking bans, inspired by recent legislative moves in France. The Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Greens are urging the implementation of measures designed to protect children and public health more broadly.
The renewed debate follows France’s decision to prohibit smoking in a wide range of public outdoor areas, including parks, bus stops, school entrances, beaches and sports facilities. The French ban, announced by the government in Paris earlier this year, will come into effect in July. It aims to limit exposure to second-hand smoke, especially among children.
Dagmar Schmidt, deputy chair of the SPD parliamentary group in the Bundestag, told Rheinische Post that France had taken a bold step that should serve as a model for Germany. “The newly introduced smoking ban in public spaces in France is a courageous move, sends a clear message in favour of health and child protection, and should also serve as a model for Germany,” she said.
In France, the new ban will apply particularly in locations frequented by children, reinforcing the argument for enhanced protection of vulnerable groups. Schmidt pointed out that children are especially at risk from the effects of second-hand smoke, noting their smaller bodies and developing respiratory systems. “Whether on playgrounds, in parks or at bus stops: children breathe the same air as adults, but their bodies are significantly more sensitive,” she stated.
Janosch Dahmen, the health policy spokesperson for the Greens in the Bundestag, supported the proposal, stating that “a smoking ban in public places, as planned in France, is the right approach – also for Germany.” He added that a truly effective policy would require making children’s daily environments entirely smoke-free.
Dahmen further emphasised that bans alone would be insufficient. “France is already ahead of us in this regard: it has implemented significantly higher tobacco taxes, prohibited sales outside of licensed specialist shops, and introduced a broad ban on tobacco advertising and sponsorship.” He argued that such comprehensive measures are necessary not only to protect children but also to address the economic burden posed by smoking-related illnesses. “We also need these policies in Germany, especially in light of the more than €30 billion spent annually by our health insurance funds on treating smoking-related diseases,” he said.
Meanwhile, Federal Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) has called on Germany’s federal states to extend smoking restrictions to include e-cigarettes and vaporisers. In remarks to Funke Mediengruppe newspapers, Warken noted that “vapes and e-cigarettes are more dangerous than many assume.” She highlighted the presence of harmful substances in their aerosols and noted that they often act as a gateway to smoking and nicotine dependence.
“To protect children and young people in particular, we need stricter regulations,” Warken said. She cited World No Tobacco Day, marked on Saturday, as a timely moment to re-examine regulatory gaps.
The Federal Non-Smoker Protection Act already includes e-cigarettes and vaporisers within its remit, but Warken argued that this is insufficient. “The same must now happen at the state level,” she said. The minister explained that federal competence in this area extends only to federal facilities and certain public transport spaces, such as passenger railway stations. Regulation of other areas – including restaurants, schools, universities and hospitals – lies with the individual federal states.
The renewed focus on smoking regulations in Germany coincides with international efforts to curb tobacco use and protect non-smokers. The French measures follow years of increasingly restrictive tobacco policies, including plain packaging, advertising bans, and heavy taxation.
In Germany, while indoor smoking bans have been widely adopted across most federal states, there is currently no nationwide regulation prohibiting smoking in open-air public areas. The proposals from SPD and Greens would mark a significant expansion of existing protections.
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