AUSTRIA
Austria’s parliament has scrapped a smoking ban in bars and restaurants that was scheduled to come into force in May, despite a petition in its favor collecting 545,000 signatures.
The ban was introduced by the previous government. Overturning it was approved by lawmakers from the ruling coalition of the conservative People’s party and the far-right Freedom party (FPO).
Attempting to pacify critics, MPs also voted to raise the minimum age for smoking to 18 and to ban smoking in vehicles if a minor is present, effective from 2019.
During last year’s election campaign, current vice-chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache pledged to overturn the ban, arguing that a ban would infringe on “freedom of choice” and that he wanted to protect restaurant and bar owners whose businesses would be affected.