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Munich's Oktoberfest is heading for a showdown after Bavarian voters backed an outright ban on smoking in public places. Some 61% of voters supported a complete ban in a weekend referendum, imposing Germany’s toughest anti-smoking laws. Turnout was 39%.

The result reinstates a complete ban imposed in 2008 but loosened by the state government last year. The milder law permitted smoking in small, one-room bars, nightclubs and discos, as well as the vast tents of the beer festival.

Oktoberfest managers have appealed for an exemption, claiming that it would be impossible to monitor the ban in tents holding thousands of revellers. The unspoken concern is that inebriated guests could turn violent if requested by staff to stop smoking.

"We had hoped that sense would prevail and that we could retain our tradition," said Toni Roiderer, spokesman for the festival brewers, "but if the majority sees it otherwise, then we won’t permit smoking any more in the beer tents."

An unrepresentative survey on the Oktoberfest website found 70% opposed to the ban. The Bavarian state government has insisted this year's Oktoberfest will be exempt from the ban.

Meanwhile, Bavaria's Green Party, which supported the referendum, has called for the new law to be imposed nationally.

Source: Irish Times, 6 July 2010
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2010/0706/1224274102956.html