Werder Bremen would like to limit smoking in the Weser Stadium in the future. But there will be no ban for the new season, only first steps and recommendations.
According to the German Cancer Society, 75.2 percent of people over the age of 18 in Germany are non-smokers, i.e. the clear majority. Werder Bremen would like to follow this zeitgeist and now focus more on the topics of “non-smoking protection and health promotion”.
The Bundesliga promoted plans to limit smoking in Bremen’s Weser Stadium from the new season. The goal is a smoke-free stadium, but Werder wants to avoid bans.
“We don’t want to tackle the issue with the threat of sanctions, but take people with us and raise awareness of non-smoker protection. We want to get them to stop smoking ourselves.” (Werder media director Christoph Pieper at Bremen Vier)
Werder appeals to reason
The club is currently working on a concept together with Bremen’s Weserstadion GmbH. There is already a so-called “health block” in which smoking is not allowed, and there is already a smoking ban in all interior areas of the Weser Stadium.
For the new season in August, Werder will first call on the fans not to smoke 15 minutes before and 15 minutes after the game in the Weser Stadium. It is a friendly recommendation, Werder appeals to the reason of the fans.
“We will not drag people out of the stadium if someone lights a cigarette.” (Werder media director Christoph Pieper at Bremen Vier)
The plan to make the stadium smoke-free is to be implemented in stages. And Werder has no illusions that it will take a long time before the appeals will have an effect. “If it worked out next season or the season after that, it would be nice,” says media director Christoph Pieper, “but we don’t know how long it will take.”
