Austria: New Federal Health Minister Pushes for a Comprehensive Smoking Ban

Introduction: Today, Sabine Oberhauser was officially appointed Austria’s new Federal Minister of Health. As the saying goes, a new official brings new measures, and she plans to implement a comprehensive smoking ban in bars and restaurants before the next national election in 2018.

According to China E-Cigarette Information, on September 1, Sabine Oberhauser was officially appointed Austria’s new Federal Minister of Health. On the same day, she said that she planned to introduce a comprehensive smoking ban in bars and restaurants before the next national election in 2018.

On September 1, Oberhauser said in an interview with public broadcaster ORF’s ZIB2 television program that she hoped to finally pass the legislation that her predecessor, former Federal Health Minister Alois Stoeger, had failed to push through.

She said that although she wanted to protect customers and employees in the affected industries, she was aware that the plan would face opposition.

The newspaper Kronen Zeitung reported that Oberhauser might also oppose one of Stoeger’s previous proposals. Stoeger had earlier said that if the comprehensive smoking ban became law, businesses that had already invested money in separating smoking and non-smoking areas would receive compensation. Oberhauser’s opposition to this proposal means that such businesses may not necessarily be compensated.