On 27th November, Basel will vote on whether to to ease the smoking ban in the canton.

As far as I can tell, the vote is to ease the restrictions to match those imposed at the federal level.

When Basel voted for the ban in 2008, they were given a choice of a relatively restrictive ban, or no ban at all.

Since that vote, a federal law has been enforced. This generally bans smoking in bars and restaurants but allows small, clearly marked smoking areas and smoking lounges.

Is there a link you can provide ?

I can't find anything in English, but here's a BAZ story;

http://bazonline.ch/basel/stadt/Schi...story/18110889

E.T.A.
Probably a better explanation;
http://www.rauchernews.de/news/2011/...s-rauchverbot/

Dodgy Google Translation

there's also this http://www.nichtraucherschutz-ja.ch/
all in German.

I'd really like to see a hardening of smoking bans, not a weakening. I know there are some places I would like to go in town but they actually allow smoking so I avoid them like the plague.

...... and here it is - the new smoking thread. Time for a holiday methinks

ya but this one is different. This one is specific to Basel... AND it's about politics.

I'd be more than happy for them to re-introduce sealed-off smoking areas in certain restaurants in exchange for banning smoking where I can't avoid it -- like in train stations.

Train stations?? thats a good idea. lets have a thread on that.

Sorry old chap. Just reporting the news after noticing posters this morning.

A) Sealed-off smoking areas are "Fumoirs" and that is what we have in Zürich.
B) The federal law does NOT limit smoking in openair train stations, not at all, but rather encourage it

So that I hope that the Baslers will reject that initative, just as the Solothurner did a year ago

At least I won't have to pay the Fumoir charge in order to stink. I used to be able to stink for free!

You think they'll abandon that? It seems like a nice little earner.

I was in Vienna airport recently. Waiting in the dep. lounge I saw nearby there was a row of Smoker cubicles where the addicts could go into a glass kiosk and smoke to their hearts content. A lot of other people waiting found this amusing, as did I, some even took photos of it

They have a bunch of those in the Zurich airport too. I think they're sponsored by Camel cigarettes

Fumoir charge ? Do you have that in Basel ? There is no such charge in the Canton of Zurich. Those in the fumoir pay the same prices as the others