The current smoking ban in Austria has been in place since November 1st, 2019, and will be extended to “additional outdoor public places” such as “children’s playgrounds and recreational areas for children and young people” in 2023. The plans by Health Minister Johannes Rauch include a proposal to regulate nicotine pouches.
Detrimental Regulations
Austria is known to have high smoking rates, with 1 in 5 person over the age of 15 being a smoker. To this effect, tobacco harm reduction experts would argue that a ban on any known safer nicotine alternatives such as pouches would be detrimental.
Meanwhile, the European Commission (EC) has proposed a ban on the sales of flavoured heated tobacco products due to a reported increase in use. The ban, which was proposed in response to a reported 10% rise in the sales volumes of heated tobacco products in several EU countries, would have to be approved by EU governments and lawmakers. Once (if) approved EU-wide, member state governments would have months to adapt their legislation to the possible change before it is effective.
“By removing flavoured heated tobacco from the market we are taking yet another step towards realising our vision under Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan to create a “Tobacco Free Generation” with less than 5% of the population using tobacco by 2040,” said EU health commissioner Stella Kyriakides, who is known for her anti-THR stance.
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