Smoking is banned in six Bundesliga arenas. From the perspective of Germany’s largest non-smoking association, this is not enough. They want a ban on smoking everywhere.
According to the “Pro Rauchfrei” initiative, there should be a general ban on smoking in all German football stadiums in the future. “Where non-smokers are forced to smoke against their will and their health is damaged, the smoker’s freedom ends,” said Arne Weinhardt from Germany’s largest non-smokers’ association to RBB. Accordingly, six Bundesliga clubs and two second division clubs have so far banned smoking in the stands.
“It’s very irritating for us how little there is movement and how resistant to change the clubs are. Especially since it has been clearly scientifically proven how harmful passive smoking is to health,” said Weinhardt. According to the association, many fans are now complaining to “Pro Rauchfrei” because they feel bothered by the cigarette smoke in the arenas.
In the narrow stands, spectators are forced to breathe in the smoke of those sitting next to them. Roofing the arenas would make it harder for smoke to escape. In many stadiums, non-smoking is only voluntary, even in family blocks.
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Mutual consideration alone rarely works, argues the non-smoking association. “We get a lot of reports that smokers, when asked not to smoke in the stadium, point out that it is allowed. And of course they are right and non-smokers have no chance,” said Weinhardt.
In the Bundesliga, there is currently an absolute smoking ban at Bayer Leverkusen, TSG Hoffenheim, FC Bayern Munich, SC Freiburg, RB Leipzig and Werder Bremen. In the English Premier League, all arenas are smoke-free, and violations are punished up to and including a stadium ban.
According to the wishes of “Pro Rauchfrei”, the decision on the issue should no longer be left to the clubs. “Health protection is a state legal monopoly and must not depend on the personal feelings of the association. We would therefore prefer a nationwide solution,” said Weinhardt.
Source: Stern
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