Austria has one of the highest rates of smoking and youth smoking among high income countries, and that might not be changing anytime soon:
Many Western countries have banned smoking in bars and restaurants, but Austria is bucking that trend. Under a law passed in 2015, Austria was due to bring in a total ban this May, but now its new government of the conservatives and the far-right Freedom Party have scrapped the plans.
The move was spearheaded by the leader of the Freedom Party, Austria's Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache, himself a smoker, who told parliament last month that it was about freedom of choice. He said restaurants should be free to decide if they want to have smoking sections, where "a citizen has the possibility to decide perhaps to enjoy a cigarette or a pipe or a cigar with their coffee".
The move has horrified Austria's medical establishment. Dr Manfred Neuberger, professor emeritus at the Medical University of Vienna, says it is "a public health disaster".
"The decision is irresponsible. It was a victory for the tobacco industry. The new government made Austria into the ashtray of Europe."
Meanwhile, the country is considering buying more jet fighters, recruiting more police, defunding its public broadcaster, and examining its past.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by The Mighty Buzzard on Friday February 16 2018, @05:19AM (4 children)
Yup. I'm against any law that treats adults like they're children.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 2) by quacking duck on Friday February 16 2018, @02:28PM (3 children)
I assume you're against laws restricting and even outright prohibiting cannabis, then?
(Score: 4, Insightful) by The Mighty Buzzard on Friday February 16 2018, @03:13PM (2 children)
Yup. To (possibly mis)quote one of the few politicians I genuinely like: I want gay married couples to be able to defend their pot farms with their guns.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 16 2018, @07:04PM (1 child)
This is your saving grace, we're pulling for you to figure out the rest!
(Score: 3, Insightful) by The Mighty Buzzard on Friday February 16 2018, @11:19PM
Nothing to figure out. Liberty good, neo-puritan totalitarians bad. End of story.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.