Baden-Württemberg restricts smoking in public spaces

Baden-Württemberg restricts smoking in public spaces June 1, 2026The German state of Baden-Württemberg is clamping down further on smoking in public places with a new package of laws that came into effect at the start of June. One notable change turns what was already a house rule at many pools around the country into a strict law — smoking at outdoor swimming pools is no longer permitted. Operators are permitted to set up small smoking zones for patrons, provided they do not disturb other swimmers — a step that's contentious in some quarters. The new restrictions also extend to other common gathering places for young children like playgrounds, bus and tram stops, theme parks and zoos. The latter two can, like outdoor pools, provide small smoking zones. Smoking areas will no longer be permitted at public transport stops, meanwhile. The new regulations will also impact some public indoor spaces. For instance, hotels will no longer be permitted to offer smoking rooms. Outdoor customer areas at pubs and restaurants, football stadiums and festival tents remain areas where the question of whether to allow smoking is entriely up to the proprietors or operators. The rules also extend to various forms of vaping and e-cigarettes or e-shishas, irrespective of whether these smoke-emitting devices actually use tobacco, nicotine or cannabis. Follow the latest headlines out of Germany in our blog here. Edited by: Roshni Majumdar