Smoke-free Switzerland: as other European countries act to protect the public against tobacco smoke in restaurants and bars, Swiss parliament is pondering its options. And a cantonal crackdown, as well as surveys of the public and politicians on federal health committees, suggest it could happen--as soon as this year.

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POLITICS

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Smoke-free Switzerland: as other European countries act to protect the public against tobacco smoke in restaurants and bars, Swiss parliament is pondering its options. And a cantonal crackdown, as well as surveys of the public and politicians on federal health committees, suggest it could happen--as soon as this year.

It's an axiom of Swiss politics that change occurs here only when grass-roots pressure demands it. Members of the healthcare committees in both parliamentary houses tell Swiss News that a sense of public urgency is mounting.

They predict that in keeping with a smoking ban imposed by Switzerland's national train network SBB in December, parliament will outlaw smoking in restaurants and bars and other public places in 2006. Aargau National Councillor Christine Egerszegli-Obrist ...

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