In 2008, it is finally safe to say that smoking in public places in Germany has come to an end. Or almost an end. One of the last and most criticized holdouts, Germany has taken steps to curb smoking in most public places. The difference between Germany and other European countries is that each state in Germany can mandate the extent to which smoking is allowed in public places.

German politicians first recognized the need for legislation regulating smoking in public places in 2003. They began to understand the risks of second-hand smoke to non-smokers and also recognized that teenagers had a much better chance at a healthy, full life if they quit or better yet, never started smoking. The first step in the fight against smoking was to significantly increase the price of a pack of cigarettes in order to subsidize health care costs. But that didn't deter hardcore smokers because sadly, and even in 2008, there is a cigarette vending machine on almost every street corner in Germany. And while the legal smoking age is 16, the availability of cigarettes from vending machines made this “rule” virtually unenforceable. Even the change to the vending machine hardware allowing only cash (EC) cards to be used as payment does not completely prevent minors from buying cigarettes.

Germany then announced smoking bans in hospitals and schools. But even in the workplace, smoking was hard to ban. Imagine working at one of the largest and most well-known global conglomerates founded and headquartered in Germany. And having to deal with your colleague, who sits four feet away from you, puffing away all day. In 2002, legislation was passed to protect non-smokers; they now had the right to complain and require the colleague who smoked to cease and desist. But in reality, it was a rare thing for one colleague to lodge a formal complaint against the guy sitting at the next desk. Even in 2008, you can still smell smoke in the corridors of some of the largest corporations in Germany. While those companies may well have official policies against smoking in the workplace, those managers with their own office, who keep their doors closed, can still get away with smoking at their desks.

The next, most welcome ban came in September 2007: The Deutsche Bahn (German Train Company) banned smoking on all trains in the country. This move followed the previous restrictions adopted in train stations around the country, which permitted smoking only in designated places inside the train stations or on train platforms. This is significant because trains are the easiest, most convenient way to get around the country. The train system is one of the best in the world and to finally be able to sit on the train and not smell smoke from the smoking half of the car, separated only by a partial glass wall, was huge.

2008 is a big year for (non) smoking in Germany, as the last of Germany's 16 states roll out their restrictions. Not every restaurant in every state will be smoke-free: some states allow closed smoking sections on the premises. The bottom line: Living in and visiting Germany is now and will continue to be more pleasant than ever.