Question about smoking policies in European countries

Smoking is much more prevalent in Europe that the US but it is changing. We have found hotels with non-smoking rooms and generally areas where smoking is prohibited. However, many of the outdoor, sidewalk cafes will permit smoking in these areas while smoking inside would be prohibited. And, of course, generally smoking on sidewalks as people are moving about is not uncommon. It is far better than ten years ago but the non-smoking level does not match the US.

Indoor smoking is becoming increasingly rare in Germany. I don't know the exact regulations, but one of the only places I regularly visit where people still smoke is the small restaurant in my village.

I noticed plenty of people smoking outside in Scandinavia, but nobody inside.

Two places that may surprise you in Germany and the Netherlands - I don't know Scandinavia - is the amount of smoking near building entrances, and inside train stations. Unless it has changed in the last few months Germany has little smoker areas on the train platforms right where people have to walk by. And people tend to interpret the areas fairly "loosely".

It is miles better than it used to be though.

The Netherlands has recently toughened up its indoor smoking regulations but I'm not sure exactly when they take effect. Of the other countries you mention Germany has the weakest laws, with Norway, Sweden and Denmark being somewhere in between, allowing separated smoking rooms in bars etc. If you need to have even tougher laws against smoking in public places that are widely observed, then you ought probably to consider heading to the UK or Ireland instead.

In general, I think you will find less of a problem with smoke in Sweden than in the U.S. Smoking is basically banned on bars, restaurants, and other public indoor places unless they have a separate room with special ventilation. Very few Swedes smoke.

I worked in Sweden for 2 years and my office building had this strange contraption that looked like a large glass phone booth. It was the "smoking room" and it had this special ventilation fan that sucked the smoke outside. The only people I ever saw smoking in there were the Germans working on my project. I never saw any of the Swedes in there. As far as tobacco goes, snus seemed to be more prevalent than smoking in Sweden.

rilkluis,

I was in all of those countries last month and more specifically (n your order), Oslo, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Hamburg, Cologne (Koln), Amsterdam.

As was stated, there are waaaay more people smoking over there.

I wasnt aware of anyone smoking INSIDE any building i entered. I didnt go to any bars since i dont drink. But i did go into a pub in London for some dinner. No smoking in that one.

Since many people smoke over there, you will get some drifting where ever the wind or people take it. Its no different than here. Also, i didnt see any type of "no smoking within 20 feet of ..." signs over there either.

In Bastogne i did have a room where apparently it was a smoking hotel recently but they are not now. I could still smell the residue smoke and from experience it will take years to get rid of it if at all. That was the only place i noticed any.

I took alot of trains over there too and didnt smell any in any of the 2nd class cars i rode in.

Now outside is a different story. they will smoke alike any other city/place. so, if youre on a sidewalk or plaza, expect it.

Just a note on Hotels. Some places allow pets. so that could be an issue for you too. what you can do is to ASK if they allow pets in the hotel/rooms.

happy trails.

I am no fan of cigarette smoke, but a much worse problem for me personally is the vehicle exhaust. Hold your breath when a bus/truck is approaching, and don't sit outside at a sidewalk café on a busy street.

You might also pay attention to where your hotel rooms are located - perhaps request an upper-story room to avoid exhaust fumes coming through open windows (check that there's an elevator if climbing stairs is a problem).

In Germany, there has been no smoking on trains for quite a few years now. Large, open train stations will often have a marked off area where you can smoke, but of course, if you have to walk past this, it isn't pleasant. Smaller stations, people just smoke where they want, with no restrictions.

Smoking laws vary a bit from state to state. Here in the state of Hessen, smoking is banned in restaurants, but small bars may choose to be a smoking bar. If a restaurant can have a completely closed off area, they may also allow smoking. The outside seating areas are the problem, as this is where all the smokers sit.

The biggest problem is that smokers congregate in front of the entrances to buildings, so you have to walk through a gauntlet of smoke to enter. I know in Canada, they are supposed to be a certain distance away from the entrance, but they haven't gotten there yet in Germany. At the airport, going out the doors to the taxi stands, you often get hit with a veil of smoke, so maybe pick a door that doesn't get used as much, or take a train where you don't have to go outside at all.

Pick hotels that are non-smoking hotels. They will say on the website if they offer smoking or not. Majority of them don't anymore. The newer the hotel, the better chance you have of getting a room where no one has ever smoked.

Of course you could always sign up for a RS Tour as they are all non-smoking, both on the bus and whenever together as a group. Thank goodness.

I don't know that second smoke would be your biggest concern. Traveling and touring require a certain amount of walking and carrying of bags unless you make costly arraignments to avoid it. I also don't know if two people with similar conditions would make ideal traveling companions as opposed to having at least one able bodied person who could assist the other.

Perhaps the two of you should have a third person who could assist you on your trip?

Smoking will definitely be encountered more than in the States but could be avoided most of the time. It won't be a problem on public transportation where you would be most vulnerable.

You've chosen the right countries - the rest of Europe is nowhere near smoke-free!
Norway, Sweden and Denmark you will be fine. In the Netherlands and in Germany you will have to be careful.

On the positive side, if you are going during the late spring and summer during good weather you can take advantage of the multitude of outdoor restaurants especially in Norway, Sweden and Denmark - with the amazingly clean air it will be wonderful to sit outside and enjoy the sun and fresh breezes!

Unfortunately, smoking is still prevalent in Europe and can be difficult to avoid. Your biggest problems will be in Germany and the Netherlands based on my experiences. On public transportation you can usually ride trains that have "no smoking" areas. Many big chain hotels have non-smoking rooms as they do here. Restaurants and bars can still be problematic if you are sensitive to smoke and there is really nothing you can do about it except to not go into them. Museums ban smoking inside so you shouldn't have a problem in places like that.

In my experience, sitting on the outdoor patio is the worst place to be if you want to avoid cigarette smoke. Many countries don't allow smoking indoors, so all the smokers congregate on the patios which at times are so thick with cigarette and cigar smoke that they resemble an old London pea soup fog. If you have a bunch of smokers surrounding your table, you won't be enjoying a pleasant meal!

I find that the best practice is to sit inside and away from the entrance. If I sit close to the entrance, I find that smoke invariably seems to drift towards me.

No smoking on trains at all in Germany.