So far, only the cantons of Ticino and Geneva have gone for a total ban. And six out of 26 cantons have introduced laws to curb passive smoking with others planning to follow suit.
According to government figures for 2007 reported by the Indo-Asian News Service, around a third of Swiss smoke. Medical bills, absenteeism, invalidity and premature deaths cost the economy an estimated $4.94 billion (5 billion francs) a year. Smoking is estimated to kill around 1,000 people in Switzerland every year, a fifth of them non-smokers.
Thus, the Swiss federal government is intent on implementing countrywide legislation, says IANS. Some 18 European countries have enacted anti-smoking laws. Ireland was the first to do so in 2004.
The Federal Public Health Department says 75 percent of Swiss non-smokers, and 40 percent of smokers, want a total ban.
GastroSuisse, a federation of hotels and restaurants, told IANS that its own survey of 500 people found that 77 percent of Swiss support a smoking area in restaurants. The federation represents 20,000 establishments throughout Switzerland. It has lobbied for a law allowing all-smoking establishments alongside non-smoking venues.
