06. 07. 10. - 13:30

Opposition parties want smoking referendum

Austrian opposition politicians called on the Austrian government to hold a referendum over smoking in pubs and restaurants today (Tues).

This comes after the majority of citizens in the German State of Bavaria supported a total smoking ban in locals and eateries.

Greens, Freedom Party (FPÖ) and the Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ) showed rare unity in appealing on Social Democratic (SPÖ) Health Minister Alois Stöger to scrap the existing ruling and hold a referendum.

Austrian gastronomy bosses face fines up to 10,000 Euros if they ignore the law which went into force on 1 July. The federal ruling says venues smaller than 50 square-metres must decide between becoming a smokers’ facility or a non-smoking area.

Pubs and restaurants bigger than 50 square metres must provide non-smoking rooms. Owners were informed of the measures in January 2009 when the law was introduced, while the interim ended this month. Around 75,000 pubs, discos and restaurants are affected.

Non-smoking pressure groups criticised the ruling as a "typically Austrian decision" leaving various legal loopholes. They hit out at Stöger when he said regional authorities were in charge of checking and fining gastronomy businessmen. Those opposing the ruling fear that officials would not become active.

Most of the groups representing the interests of smokers meanwhile acclaimed the law, claiming it left people with enough options where to go out.

Stöger made clear he was in favour of a full non-smoking ruling, stressing that FPÖ and BZÖ smokers’ lobbyists were too powerful to make it work.

FPÖ said they were in support of a referendum held on the issue as it regarded itself as a party which generally welcomes the involvement of people in political decision-making.

BZÖ boss Josef Bucher said he feared public offices will be flooded with people reporting gastronomy managers allegedly ignoring the new law.

Greens chief Eva Glawischnig said she expected many people to ignore the ruling and continue to smoke everywhere.

Austria has one of the highest numbers of smokers in Europe.

The health minister rejected appeals for a referendum.

"I’m not in favour of the idea. Polls have shown that two thirds of Austrians are happy with the current ruling," he said.

Political magazines meanwhile speculate Stöger is facing the axe after the provincial elections of Styria and Vienna this autumn as the SPÖ considered replacing a number of unpopular government members.