Tobacco Regulation Reform of 2020 - Saxenheim

Rationale

Current heavy restrictions disproportionately burden small businesses and adult smokers while failing to noticeably reduce harm. For this reason, we consider that lighter regulation would suffice, while also weakening the trade of tobacco on the black market.

Proposed Changes

	Law	Previous		Proposed
1	Tobacco & Vaping Regulation	Heavy restrictions (plain packaging; indoor ban; age 21; advertising banned)		Light regulation (age 18, designated smoking areas, health warnings)

1

Tobacco & Vaping Regulation

Previous law

Heavy restrictions (plain packaging; indoor ban; age 21; advertising banned)

Light regulation (age 18, designated smoking areas, health warnings)

Proposer

Party

Competence And Freedom

Competence and Freedom (C&F) is a centrist, technocratic party. We advocate for competent government, individual rights, a free market with sensible guardrails, accessible, high-quality education, and principled opposition to extremism and populism on both the far-right and the far-left.

Core pillars

AM

Anton Mayer

Activist · Age 29

25,059 social followers

A self-taught economist and viral activist, Anton Mayer burst onto the scene with fiery speeches and a no-nonsense critique of the status quo, channeling his outsider status into a loyal following for a party promising radical but grounded reform.

🔬 Analytical ✨ Charismatic 🤝 Loyal 🌍 Outsider 🔥 Firebrand

Timeline

Draft

15 February 2020
Vote Open

15 February 2020
Vote Closed

15 April 2020
Did Not Become Law

15 April 2020

Vote tally

Live tally across each chamber. Weighted by seats held.

Bundesrat

Failed

26Yes 31No 12Not voted 69 seats

For: 26 / 69 seats (37.7%)

Against: 31 · Abstained: 0 · Not voted: 12

50.1% of those voting must vote in favour (actual = 45.6%)

Party	Seats	Vote	Reason
Alliance For Digital Freedom And Rights	14	Yes	ADFR will always support liberal reforms such as this one: we don't encourage tobacco consumption in any way, but whenever the State prohibits something, criminal organisations take its place. Something we want to avoid at all costs.
Competence And Freedom Proposer	12	Yes	No reason given
Left Forward	21	No	We don't believe smokers should be criminalised. Addiction is a health issue, not a crime. But an advertising ban remains one of the most effective ways to stop young people from starting in the first place. Prevention and support belong together. Rolling back proven protections doesn't help anyone.
Saxenheim Workers’ Union	10	No	The state has a duty to protect the health and discipline of the nation. Relaxing restrictions on tobacco and vaping would reverse progress in reducing harmful habits, particularly among young people. Strong regulation protects public health while reinforcing personal responsibility and the long-term strength of Saxenheim.
Empty seats	5	Not voted

Bundestag

Failed

247Yes 289No 114Not voted 650 seats

For: 247 / 650 seats (38.0%)

Against: 289 · Abstained: 0 · Not voted: 114

50.1% of those voting must vote in favour (actual = 46.1%)

Party	Seats	Vote	Reason
Alliance For Digital Freedom And Rights	130	Yes	ADFR will always support liberal reforms such as this one: we don't encourage tobacco consumption in any way, but whenever the State prohibits something, criminal organisations take its place. Something we want to avoid at all costs.
Competence And Freedom Proposer	117	Yes	No reason given
Left Forward	199	No	We don't believe smokers should be criminalised. Addiction is a health issue, not a crime. But an advertising ban remains one of the most effective ways to stop young people from starting in the first place. Prevention and support belong together. Rolling back proven protections doesn't help anyone.
Saxenheim Workers’ Union	90	No	The state has a duty to protect the health and discipline of the nation. Relaxing restrictions on tobacco and vaping would reverse progress in reducing harmful habits, particularly among young people. Strong regulation protects public health while reinforcing personal responsibility and the long-term strength of Saxenheim.
Empty seats	52	Not voted

Voting record

Every vote must state a public reason. Most recent first.

Saxenheim Workers’ Union

Voted March 9, 2020

No

“The state has a duty to protect the health and discipline of the nation. Relaxing restrictions on tobacco and vaping would reverse progress in reducing harmful habits, particularly among young people. Strong regulation protects public health while reinforcing personal responsibility and the long-term strength of Saxenheim.”

Left Forward

Voted March 2, 2020

No

“We don't believe smokers should be criminalised. Addiction is a health issue, not a crime. But an advertising ban remains one of the most effective ways to stop young people from starting in the first place. Prevention and support belong together. Rolling back proven protections doesn't help anyone.”

Alliance For Digital Freedom And Rights

Voted Feb. 26, 2020

Yes

“ADFR will always support liberal reforms such as this one: we don't encourage tobacco consumption in any way, but whenever the State prohibits something, criminal organisations take its place. Something we want to avoid at all costs.”