The smoking ban in Austrian restaurants, which has been in force since November 1st, 2019, will be extended to "additional outdoor public places" in 2023, according to plans by Health Minister Johannes Rauch (Greens).

A new amendment to the Tobacco and Non-Smoker Protection Act is being worked on, according to the newspaper Der Standard. Among other things, it provides for an Austria-wide extension of the smoking ban to "additional outdoor public places" such as "children's playgrounds and recreational areas for children and young people".