Ban on smoking in all football stadiums: initiative with a clear demand

Ban on smoking in all football stadiums: initiative with a clear demand


Referreport

The “Pro Rauchfrei” initiative calls for a comprehensive ban on smoking in all German football stadiums. The club reports that an increasing number of fans are complaining that they are bothered by cigarette smoke in the arenas.

In the future, the “Pro Rauchfrei” initiative would like to see a comprehensive ban on smoking in all German football stadiums. “Where the non-smoker is forced to smoke against his will and his health is damaged, the smoker’s freedom ends,” said Arne Weinhardt from Germany’s largest non-smoking association to the RBB. So far, smoking in the stands is generally prohibited at six Bundesliga teams and two second division teams.

“It’s very irritating for us how little there is movement and how resistant to change the clubs are. Especially since it has been clearly scientifically proven how harmful passive smoking is to health,” said Weinhardt. The club reports that an increasing number of fans are complaining to “Pro Rauchfrei” who feel disturbed by cigarette smoke in the arenas.

Smoke-free – especially desired in the family block

In the limited stands, spectators are forced to inhale the smoke of those sitting next to them. Due to the roofing of the arenas, it is harder for the smoke to escape. In many stadiums, non-smoking is only voluntary, even in family blocks.

The non-smoking association argues that mutual consideration alone often doesn’t work. “We get a lot of reports that smokers, when asked not to smoke in the stadium, point out that it is allowed. And of course they are right and non-smokers have no chance,” said Weinhardt. Smoking is therefore currently banned in the Bundesliga at Bayer Leverkusen, TSG Hoffenheim, FC Bayern Munich, SC Freiburg, RB Leipzig and Werder Bremen. In the English Premier League, all arenas are smoke-free and violations are punished up to and including a stadium ban.

According to “Pro Rauchfrei”, the decision on this issue should no longer be left to the clubs. “Health protection is a state legal monopoly and must not depend on the personal feelings of the association. We would therefore prefer a nationwide solution,” said Weinhardt.

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Preview image: © Photo: Jens Kalaene, dpa

Source: German