Oktoberfest drinkers affected by smoking ban

Smoking bans have affected many drinkers across the world in the last few years. Pub goers in the United Kingdom and Ireland have not been able to smoke in bars or restaurants since 2007 and 2004 respectively. The ban is now set to affect possibly the largest communal beer drinking event in Europe.

Oktoberfest will be largely smoke-free after Bavarians voted for a complete smoking ban city wide with small limitations to be made for this year’s festivities. The festival lasts for 16 days during late September and early October in Munich and will, this year, celebrate its 200 year anniversary since its advent in 1810. This year, some of the 6 million people who are expected to attend the celebration will have to do without cigarettes, and other smoking products, inside most of the vast and varied beer tents.

The south-eastern state has had an interesting history regarding the smoking ban. In 2008 Bavarians voted through a similar act (which is the strictest in Germany). After complaints from voters, the tobacco industry, and several bars and restaurants, the restrictions of the ban were eventually relaxed last year.

Whether or not the ban will be truly upheld this time around remains to be seen considering that the turnout for the vote, on the 4th of July, was a mere 39%. Of those who did vote, a 61% majority voted in favour of the ban. Certainly, the organisers of the event aren’t very pleased with the result. A spokesman for the festival’s brewers stated that they “had hoped that sense would prevail and that we could retain out tradition,” but insisted that they will follow the law and implement the new ruling. Next year it is expected that authorities will get tough and that no exceptions will be made for the festival.

Following the vote, many anti-smoking campaigners have been calling for a nationwide ban. Smoking is banned in public transport and government buildings across Germany, but other regulations are determined separately by Germany’s 16 federal states.

Smokers who are heading to Munich for the festival are bound to be unhappy, but at least they’ll be in the perfect place to drown their sorrows.