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posted by janrinok on Friday February 16 2018, @05:07AM   Printer-friendly
from the all-those-in-favour,-please-cough dept.

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.


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  • (Score: 2) by MostCynical on Friday February 16 2018, @07:13AM (13 children)

    by MostCynical (2589) on Friday February 16 2018, @07:13AM (#638727) Journal

    Yes. Fewer brown people, and even fewer who want to move to the USA.

    --
    "I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
    Starting Score:    1  point
    Karma-Bonus Modifier   +1  

    Total Score:   2  
  • (Score: 5, Informative) by realDonaldTrump on Friday February 16 2018, @08:39AM (12 children)

    by realDonaldTrump (6614) on Friday February 16 2018, @08:39AM (#638745) Homepage Journal

    Puerto Rico, so many said "make us a state!" 97%. But, so many Dems there. Too many. It would be a DISASTER for our Senate. For our House of Reps. And for our magnificent Electoral College.

    But, Austria is different. I don't smoke -- I've never touched a cigarette in my life, it's a DISGUSTING habit. But they stand with their Police. They stand with their Military. They seem like good people. They've been a tremendous ally. They have ELECTRICITY. They speak our language. And just like Puerto Rico, they have beautiful beaches. Let's make Austria part of the USA! One Team, One People, One American Family!

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 16 2018, @08:51AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 16 2018, @08:51AM (#638746)

      Don't. Italians will want to immigrate there.

    • (Score: 2, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 16 2018, @09:12AM (1 child)

      by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 16 2018, @09:12AM (#638749)

      They speak our language.

      Yes, they speak your language. This language: Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Führer!

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 17 2018, @08:59AM

        by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 17 2018, @08:59AM (#639273)

        Ahh we vill haf you speaking properly in next to no time!
        First, remove the w from your words...

    • (Score: 2) by c0lo on Friday February 16 2018, @10:05AM (8 children)

      by c0lo (156) Subscriber Badge on Friday February 16 2018, @10:05AM (#638760) Journal

      And just like Puerto Rico, they have beautiful beaches.

      Right! +1 Informative.

      (grin)

      --
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
      • (Score: 1) by anubi on Friday February 16 2018, @10:48AM (7 children)

        by anubi (2828) on Friday February 16 2018, @10:48AM (#638770) Journal

        Austria or Australia?

        Australia has some beautiful beaches, but I understand Australia also has a lot of dangerous fishes.

        --
        "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]
        • (Score: 3, Funny) by c0lo on Friday February 16 2018, @11:02AM (5 children)

          by c0lo (156) Subscriber Badge on Friday February 16 2018, @11:02AM (#638773) Journal

          Austria or Australia?

          I say tomato you say tomahto, pretty much the same orange colour, right? (grin)

          Australia has some beautiful beaches, but I understand Australia also has a lot of dangerous fishes.

          Naaahhh mate! That's an exaggeration.
          Look, I've eaten lots of fish and chips on the beaches here and I'm still alive (large grin)

          --
          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
          • (Score: 1) by anubi on Saturday February 17 2018, @08:11AM (1 child)

            by anubi (2828) on Saturday February 17 2018, @08:11AM (#639263) Journal

            You have orange tomaytoes down there?

            ;)

            TrumpBurgers!

            --
            "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]
            • (Score: 2) by c0lo on Sunday February 18 2018, @05:43AM

              by c0lo (156) Subscriber Badge on Sunday February 18 2018, @05:43AM (#639616) Journal

              Why, yes, of course we have.
              But, thanks God, we managed to keep them restricted on the veggie patch... so far.

              --
              https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
          • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 17 2018, @09:16AM (2 children)

            by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 17 2018, @09:16AM (#639279)

            Actually it's the jelly fish or stingrays that will kill you.
            RIP Steve :(

            • (Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Saturday February 17 2018, @07:05PM

              by The Mighty Buzzard (18) Subscriber Badge <themightybuzzard@proton.me> on Saturday February 17 2018, @07:05PM (#639410) Homepage Journal

              You forgot the dropbears. Well, and essentially every other form of animal life. I'm unsure on the fauna.

              --
              My rights don't end where your fear begins.
            • (Score: 2) by c0lo on Sunday February 18 2018, @06:00AM

              by c0lo (156) Subscriber Badge on Sunday February 18 2018, @06:00AM (#639621) Journal

              Actually it's the jelly fish or stingrays that will kill you.

              No on the beach, mate, no - you are safe there.

              You'll need to get in the water. If you do, all the bets are off... except for which is the most likely way to die.
              Chances are you'll drown in a rip current [surflifesaving.com.au].
              Beat me if I understand why, but it looks like hundreds/year find it extremely fascinating - some even come from abroad to do it [abc.net.au]

              --
              https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
        • (Score: 2) by dry on Friday February 16 2018, @11:14PM

          by dry (223) on Friday February 16 2018, @11:14PM (#639107) Journal

          Not really a problem as you're likely to get killed by a snake or spider on the way to the beach and if you make it, there's still the crocs between you and the water. Those who survive will feed the sharks though.