© 2007 Vivre sans Fumer

Neuchatel, Switzerland (24 heures, Fre) – Smokers have invaded the streets outside bars and restaurants since the canton of Neuchatel banned smoking in all public places 1 April 2009. Smokers are unhappy. Some restaurant-owners too, reports 24 heures, although owners the newspaper spoke to say their complaints are tempered by the realization that some clients now stay longer after their meal, or come with the family. Bars and discotheques generally have nothing nice to say about the new law, reports 24 heures, and their neighbours complain that customers go onto the street to smoke, leave cigarette butts lying around and annoy the neighbours at night.

Many restaurants and cafes cannot afford a separate smoking area, and are anyway hesitant to invest before the federal government comes out with an overriding anti-smoking law, which may be more strict.

Neuchatel is the first French-speaking canton to introduce an anti-smoking law. Geneva introduced, then rescinded, a ban in 2008.  Valais will have a smoking ban 1 July, then Vaud in September, and Fribourg in January 2010.

Background:“Geneva smoking battle continues: new law allows smoking areas” 23 January 2009, GenevaLunch

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