Smoking in Germany

[6][5] According to German addiction researcher Heino Stöver [de], Germany has "[...] more cigarette vending machines than any other country in the world.

"[7] Under federal law, the manufacture, import, distribution, and advertisement of tobacco is regulated whilst the 16 federal states of Germany each have their own legislation regarding smoking in public places,[8] which range from relatively weak regulations to full smoking bans in all licensed premises, childcare facilities, schools and governmental institutions.

As of July 2016, nearly 40% of the German population live in a state which bans smoking in all restaurants, pubs, cafés and nightclubs (Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Saarland).

According to a 2013 micro-census survey, 24.5% of the German population aged fifteen years and over are smokers (29% of men, 20% of women).

[11] According to a 2010 study by University of Bielefeld, 9.9% of all 15-year-old males and 10.8% of 15-year-old females smoked daily, which showed a strong decline during the previous decade.

A 2006 a comparative study found that 25.1% of male and 20.6% of female medical students in Göttingen smoked, while in London the percentages were only 10.9% and 9.1%.

[24] Germany was the last EU member state to still legally permit billboard and cinema advertising for tobacco products, however this was changed by a new government regulation.

The information is printed on the "Steuerbanderole" (tax strip) of each tobacco package in full Euro and cent values.

[citation needed] Under Germany's "Protection of Young Persons Act" it is unlawful to sell or supply any tobacco product to anyone who is under eighteen years of age.

[27] Selling tobacco products for more or less than the retail sale price set by the manufacturer and printed on the tax strip is unlawful.