By Bjorn Trautwein
“What kind of crazy idea is that, is it coming from the Greens again?” Kindergarten teacher Antje (48) is sitting with two friends in a corner in “Karlshorst Village” and lights up a Gauloises.
She doesn’t believe in a smoking ban in her favorite bar. That’s why she came here. To light a cigarette with the wine spritzer.
But that could soon be the end of it. However, it is not the fault of the Greens. The “crazy idea” is a demand of the non-smoking initiative Germany.
With an initiative, she wants to seal the end of smoking bars throughout Germany.
Ernst-Günther Krause from the non-smokers’ initiative (headquartered in Bavaria): “There is a certain peer pressure or partner pressure for non-smokers to come to smoking bars.
Then people like to say, ‘Don’t be like that’.” He fears that the protection of smokers is given priority over the protection of non-smokers. Anyone can smoke outdoors.
You can, but nobody wants to. At least not in Berlin’s smoking bars. The mood there is clear: don’t take our fags away from us.
BZ asked around in three of the approximately 1000 Berlin smoking bars:
► “Karlshorst Village” in Lichtenberg
Smoking bars such as “Kalrshorst Village” must be recognizable from the outside and may not be more than 75 square meters in size. Admission only from 18 years Photo: Olaf Selchow
Two small rooms, two slot machines, a pool table and an ashtray on each table. Outside the trucks are smoking on Treskowallee, inside the guests. Almost everyone here has a box of butts in front of them.
The air is for cutting, the walls are slightly yellowed. Antje sits here every week with her two friends Thomas (50) and Jens (56) at a small table in the back right corner.
They’ve known each other since school and have been coming to the Village for years. “If you don’t like the smoke, you don’t have to come here,” says Jens.
He says this even though he doesn’t smoke himself: “It doesn’t bother me and it’s more comfortable for the others.”
Managing director Azad Suleiman (45) also doesn’t want to know anything about non-smoker protection. “Most of our guests come to smoke. If they are no longer allowed to do so, the store remains empty.
Jens (56, left), Antje (48) and Thomas (50) meet up once a week in their local pub. The cigarette is part of the cosiness Photo: Olaf Selchow
I’m against bans, there are plenty of alternatives for non-smokers.” Anke admits: “We would probably come if we weren’t allowed to smoke. But what do I pick up then – a carrot?”
The facts: 127,000 people die every year in Germany as a result of smoking.
Therefore, there are of course good arguments for a smoking ban. The German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) also supports smoke-free pubs.
Burt Bruck (62) sits at the counter at Azad Suleiman in Karlshorst Village two to three times a week. The forklift driver smokes a pack a day, preferably here in his favorite pub
Photo: Olaf Selchow
Reason: the exposure to tobacco smoke is too high in smoking rooms and the smoke also moves into adjacent rooms.
“Therefore, the federal states should revise their non-smoker protection laws and introduce completely smoke-free gastronomy, including a ban on the use of tobacco heaters, e-cigarettes and water pipes,” says Katrin Schaller, head of the cancer prevention department.
Smokers die earlier and are sick more often. But if you believe them, they have more fun before that.
► “To the cap”, Oranienstrasse (Kreuzberg)
The bar “Zur Mütze” in Kreuzberg is one of over 1000 smoking bars in Berlin Photo: Charles Yunck
People have been smoking in the cozy little pint since 1956. And so it should stay. At least when it comes to landlady Chayenne Zimmermann (25).
She can’t imagine a bar without a fag. Basic tenor: live and let live.
“Without smoking, there would simply be no mood here,” says Chayenne, “many of our customers would be gone and we would then make a loss. I do not hope that the initiative will be successful with that.”
Hans-Jürgen Link (58), construction machinist, regularly drinks and smokes in the “Mütze”: “In Berlin you could always smoke quartz – and it should stay that way” Photo: Charles Yunck
One of her regulars, Michael Solinger (60), sees it the same way:
“I don’t understand the demands. Everyone can decide for themselves where they want to go. Because a few Fatzkes are upset again, should we give up our pub? I think it hacks.”
The smoking law is a patchwork quilt in Germany. In three federal states, in Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia and Saarland, there is no exception to the smoking ban in restaurants.
Michael Sabinger (60) wants to continue to be able to light his cigarette in the Kreuzberg pub Photo: Charles Yunck
If you want to quartz, you have to go outside. And according to the non-smoking initiative, this should soon apply to all of Germany. There were almost 1,200 smoking bars in Berlin in 2016.
This year, the district office in Mitte counted 88 restaurants with a smoke license. In Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf there are 200. And if the guests have their way, it should stay that way.
► “To Little Moritz” at Moritzplatz
Landlady Vivien (46) fears a loss in sales if smoking is no longer allowed in “little Moritz”. Photo: Charles Yunck
Office clerk Uwe Flemming (62) is drinking his after-work beer on tap here in the cozy corner pub in Berlin.
“The crazy thing is, I’m a non-smoker, coming for my buddies. But smoking is simply part of Berlin – there is always a unique atmosphere here.”
Fadmir Zuzaku (47), Gazmeld Vrapqani (46) and Agron Haziri (47, from left) Photo: Charles Yunck
From young to old, everything is represented here. The three craftsmen Fadmir Zuzaku (47), Gazmeld Vrapqani (46) and Agron Haziri (47) sit together at the table.
“The atmosphere here is just great,” say all three. “It’s Berlin! We just want to have a beer here and smoke in a relaxed manner!”