Ireland: Smoking in pubs, restaurants, and other enclosed workplaces has been banned.

Italy: Smoking in all enclosed public places including bars and restaurants has been banned.

Norway: Smoking is banned in restaurants, bars and cafes. Tobacco advertising has

Scotland: Legislation enacted.  See smoking guidelines Click Here.

France attempted to cut smoking levels by raising the price of cigarettes by 20% in October 2003. The move provoked a strike from furious tobacconists, many fearing being forced out of business by smokers crossing borders to buy cigarettes in neighbouring countries. Despite the price hike, correspondents reported no noticeable difference in Paris' traditionally smoke-filled cafes and bars.

Italy imposed a ban on smoking in all enclosed public places including bars and restaurants from midnight on 10 January, 2005. Businesses face a fine of up to 2,000 euros (£1,395) if they fail to ensure their customers do not smoke, while smokers themselves could face a 275-euro (£191) for repeatedly ignoring the new rules. The ban has not been welcomed by all, with some bar owners and smokers saying they will ignore the ban on the grounds that cigarettes and smoking are an integral part of Italian bar and cafe culture. The new rules allow smoking in special sealed-off areas fitted with smoke extractors; however many bar owners say fitting the automatic doors and forced ventilation systems required by law is too expensive.

The Netherlands: A tough crackdown on smoking from 1 January 2004 saw cigarettes banned from many public places including railway stations, trains, toilets and offices. The government has warned hotels, bars and restaurants that they face further measures in 2005 unless they adopt their own controls on smoking.

Norway: A national ban was imposed on smoking in restaurants, bars and cafes from 1 June 2004. The government says the ban is to protect staff working in these establishments from passive smoking and to "de-normalise" smoking as a social pastime.

Spain: A new law banning smoking in offices, shops, schools, hospitals, cultural centres and on public transport was introduced on 1 January, 2006. Businesses occupying more than 100sq m were given eight months to set up a separate smoking area. Smaller premises have to indicate whether they are smoke-free.

Sweden: Smoking was prohibited in all bars and restaurants from midnight on Tuesday 31 May 2005. A majority of people questioned in a Temo poll welcomed the ban. Establishments wanting to allow smoking are required to have a closed-off section with specially-designed ventilation, where no food or drink can be served. But most venues were not expected to be able to afford such renovations.

Legislation pending:

France: (Friday, Apr 14, 2006)
Legislation to prohibit smoking in public places has been postponed by embattled French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, still smarting from the country-wide protests that resulted in his scrapping the much-maligned youth labor reform.

Instead, he instructed health minister Xavier Bertrand to study the problem in greater depth and explore various solutions. And if Bertrand can stall for long enough, perhaps the issue will go away until after the 2007 presidential election.

England and Wales (Consultation period on implementation of legislation almost complete last deadline for submission 9 October, 2006 - proposed for enactment summer 2007)

The proposal is for similar legislation as that made law in Scotland.  Click Here for detailed proposals. Wales will ban smoking in enclosed public spaces on April 2 next year, First Minister Rhodri Morgan said today. It means the ban will come into force before the Assembly elections in May. Wales was the first part of the UK to vote for a smoking ban, but the Assembly has not had the power to enforce it until now. The ban is likely to be in place in Wales before England, where it is expected to begin next summer.  Click Here for latest implementation proposals. NOTE:  Registered users only, you must log on to access, Click Here to log on.

Germany

Is considering smoking legislation including banning smoking in restaurants.