On June 1, 2026, a new law protecting non-smokers went into effect in Baden-Württemberg. Smoking is no longer permitted in places such as playgrounds and bus stops. Violators face heavy fines.
According to a statement from the Baden-Württemberg state government, the smoking ban applies:
• in all publicly accessible indoor areas,
• at public playgrounds,
• at bus and tram stops,
• on school grounds, including schoolyards,
• as well as in certain outdoor areas such as zoos, amusement parks, and outdoor swimming pools.
Exceptions for the hospitality industry
The law also applies to e-cigarettes, tobacco heaters, and similar products, regardless of their nicotine or cannabis content.
In zoos, amusement parks, and outdoor swimming pools, clearly designated smoking areas may be established. In restaurants, nightclubs, hookah bars, casinos, and arcades, smoking is still permitted in separate smoking rooms. Beer, wine, and festival tents are exempt from the smoking ban.
Fines for Violations of the Non-Smoker Protection Act
Violations of the smoking ban may in future be punished with fines of up to 200 euros, and up to 500 euros for repeat offenses, according to the state government. The law states that the operators of the facility are responsible for enforcement and providing information. The aim of the new regulation is to better protect children, adolescents, and vulnerable individuals in particular from the risks of secondhand smoke.
Further information:
https://www.staatsanzeiger.de/nachrichten/politik-und-verwaltung/neue-verbote-fuer-raucher-das-gilt-ab-juni-im-suedwesten/
https://www.baden-wuerttemberg.de/de/service/presse/pressemitteilung/pid/neue-regeln-fuer-raucherinnen-und-raucher-vom-1-juni-an-1
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