The Bavarian CSU parliamentary group has announced plans to drastically tighten non-smoker protection laws by equating e-cigarettes and shishas with traditional tobacco. This legislative push aims to immediately ban vaping across all public indoor spaces, eliminating a long-standing legal loophole in Germany’s strictest state for smoking regulations.
According to the proposed changes to the Bavarian Health Protection Act, electronic cigarettes, e-shishas, and heated tobacco products will face the exact same restrictions as combustible cigarettes.
If passed, the new regulations will enforce a strict vaping ban in numerous public areas, including:
- Restaurants, bars, and cafes
- Schools and educational facilities
- Hospitals and healthcare centers
- Sports facilities and airports
CSU parliamentary group leader Klaus Holetschek emphasized that health protection cannot have gaps. “E-cigarettes and heated tobacco products are not harmless lifestyle products, but can be an entry into nicotine addiction and release harmful substances—even for third parties,” he stated. Notably, cannabis vaporizers are already regulated under these strict tobacco laws.
The initiative has drawn strong support from the Green Party. Andreas Hanna-Krahl, spokesperson for health, called the move long overdue, noting that experts have repeatedly warned against leaving legal gray areas when protecting minors from seemingly modern products like vapes.
While Bavaria has enforced a strict indoor smoking ban since August 2010, vaping had previously operated in an unregulated gray zone. Under the new proposal, outdoor areas such as traditional beer gardens will remain generally exempt from the ban, provided individual operators do not enforce stricter private rules.
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