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To rauch or not to rauch
Apparently easily given to hyperbole, Dusseldorf claims to be (rather than to have) the world’s longest bar; in reality something akin to a more packed version of Christchurch’s Strip of restaurants and bars, all with outdoor tables and heating. Many of the bars describe themselves as Raucherclubs, or smoking clubs, introduced to get around the German smoking ban in bars. When the ban was introduced many of the local bars turned themselves into these smoking clubs and patrons simply had to sign in free as a member. The result, the smoking ban has become totally ineffective and unenforced, and smoking in bars is as it was in New Zealand a decade ago.
This is not an encouragement to the Hospitality Association to follow suit.