Finland - ban on smoking on terraces of private apartments overturned..

September 7, 2010 - Finland has been a real disappointment when it comes to tobacco control. Based on what Finns were saying it was felt they consumption of tobacco would end by 2040.. It doesn't look like this will happen based on the the new tobacco act approved by the President of Finland.

To underscore the weakness of tobacco control an administrative court in the Finnish city of Hämeenlinna (about 70 miles north of Helsinki) has overturned a ban that the municipality of Pirkkala imposed on smoking on the terrace of a private rental apartment, according to an Esmerk Finnish News story.

The municipality banned smoking on the patio of a privately-owned building on the grounds that cigarette smoke could pose a health risk to residents in the neighboring apartment.

The administrative court ruled that while the smoke tests carried out by health inspectors were appropriate, a ban that applied to the whole courtyard was too strict.

Reference: Terrace smoking ban too strict, Tobacco Reporter, 9/7/2010.

Finland - some related news briefs:
Finland - president approves new tobacco act, not as strong as people hoped..;
Finland - Philip Morris destroys 20 million cigarettes - not self-extinguishing..;
Finland - govt can not prevent people from smoking in cars when kids are present..;
Finland - proposal for plain cigarette packaging surfaces again..;
Finland - parliament will soon vote on anti-smoking bill..;
Finland - anti-smoking bill will end smoking altogether..;
Finland - to end the consumption of tobacco products by 2040..;
Finland - extends anti-tobacco law, restricting smoking in cars and ban on cigarette displays..;
Finland - health officials devising more restrictions to fight tobacco use..;
Finland - government proposing ban on smoking when kids present and other tobacco control measures..;
Finland may ban smoking in cars carrying children..;
Finland - Court of Appeals Hears Cigarette Liability Case, Decision Spring 2010..;
Finland banning shops from displaying cigarettes..;
Finland - proposal to ban tobacco display, total ban on SNUS..;
European Health Commissioner reprimands Astrid Thors for snus liberation campaign..;
Aland Islands Dispute Over Sale of SNUS On Board Ships Threatens Finland's Ratification of the EU's Treaty of Lisbon (The Reform Treaty)..;
Finnish Ferry Goes Swedish Over Snus Ban..;
EU Takes Finland to Court Again For NOT Banning the Use of Oral Tobacco..