Bern’s smoking ban comes into effect today, and with it comes free ashtrays on the streets. Authorities started passing out ashtrays yesterday to hopefully encourage smokers not to throw their cigarette butts away irresponsibly. The canton wants to avoid having to spend more money, as a result of the ban, on cleaning the streets. From today, smoking is banned in enclosed public places but people can light up in some restaurants which provide separate smoking areas. It’s believed that very few restaurants have set aside rooms just for smokers.

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