#208: U2, smoking crackdown, Paris sleeper, tax time
Rammstein investigation dropped
Dear 20 Percent,
On January 1, 2008 Berlin’s Nichtraucherschutzgesetz or non-smoker-protection-law went into effect.
It was a big deal at the time. Back then you could smoke EVERYWHERE, inside and outside. I remember some expat blogger saying they had a dedicated “cafe shirt” for going out in Berlin so they didn’t have to do laundry every time they went for a beer.
At the time, I somehow romanticised the smoking as it confirmed my notion that Berlin was a holdout of free, Bohemian culture that was resisting the global tide of priggishness and puritanism.
Well, as you all know, the ban was never a full ban. Exceptions were made for certain small “smoker bars” where the proprietor worked behind the bar. And that rule was never enforced and the state turned a blind eye to smoking in nightspots that were supposed to be smoke-free. Until now.
Green district councillors in Mitte and Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg have ramped up Ordnungsamt inspections of clubs and have been fining venues that fail to uphold the ban. Smokers can be fined €100, venues €1,000.
Maybe it really is time for Berlin to catch up with the rest of the world and prioritise health over edgy vibes. Please tell us in the comments if you’ve noticed a difference in smokiness recently!
More news below.
Maurice
P.S. Times, they are a changin’ but one thing stays constant: 20% Berlin in your inbox every Tuesday and Friday, come rain or shine. We love our work but we also enjoy the occasional smoke-free beer. Support our habit with a few euros a month!
U-Bahn at Alex
After 300 days of infrequent shuttle trains between Senefelderplatz and Klosterstraße, our beloved narrow-gauge U2 has been running normally through Alexanderplatz since 4:39am Monday, writes Tagesspiegel. Construction work on a high-rise above the Alex U-Bahn station damaged the tunnel last autumn, leading to closure of one of the tracks. The damage appears to have been repaired now, and trains are running on both tracks but Pankow-bound trains are operating at slower-than-usual speeds as a precaution. Construction continues in the tunnel and its structural integrity is being monitored by sensors.
Paris sleeper
Deutsche Bahn shut down overnight train service to Paris, Amsterdam and Kopenhagen in 2014, citing rising costs and competition from low-cost airlines. Turns out that was a pretty short-sighted decision. With more travellers looking for climate-friendly alternatives to flying, Austrian rail operator ÖBB is rolling out its Nightjet sleepers across the continent, with a Berlin-Paris route scheduled to launch in December. The trains will leave Hauptbahnhof at 8:18 pm and arrive at Gare de l’Est at 10:28 am, with stops at Halle, Erfurt, Frankfurt and Strasbourg. Tickets haven’t gone on sale yet — we’ll let you know when they do.
Rammstein singer cleared
The Berlin public prosecutor's office has discontinued its investigation into Rammstein frontman Till Lindemann due to insufficient grounds for suspicion, reports Berliner Zeitung. The singer was being investigated over sexual assault accusations. Several women had accused Lindemann of coercing them into sex during and after concerts, and the possible use of date rape drugs. The singer has denied the accusations.
British invasion
Coffee chain Caras has sold its five Berlin locations to the company running the German franchise of UK chain Prêt à Manger, according to Tagesspiegel. Expect to see the food-and-coffee bars popping up on Leipziger Platz, the centre formerly known as Sony Center, Friedrichstraße, Ku’damm and elsewhere. I’m happy, since I won’t have to trek to their Hauptbahnhof cafe for a decent egg mayo sandwich.
Factoid
More reminder than factoid: Individuals must file their 2022 tax returns by September 30. However, since that day happens to be a Saturday, the kind folks at the Finanzamt have extended the final filing deadline to Monday, October 2. Those of you who have a tax advisor have more time to file, until July 31, 2024, a Wednesday.
I find the entire concept of smoking to be absolutely bizarre. It's as if humanity has been brainwashed into normalizing a habit that not only harms the user, but also everyone around them. Cigarette smoke instantly irritates my chronic bronchitis. But who cares if I can't enjoy any type of outdoor venue, right? And don't even get me started on the blanket of cigarette butts on the ground and the cloud of smoke in the air that I have to walk through every time I pass the Job Center on my way to the UBahn station. In Berlin, it's obvious that the smoker's right to engage in this stupid, self-destructive behavior is FAR more important than the environment, or my health.
I'm an addict of 30 years... Smoking since I was 14. There's no pride in this. Upon arriving to Berlin I found it convenient, unlike my experience in the US among other countries. However before arriving (and ever since) I advocate for some form of NZ model where all sales are outlawed. Reminds me the day after the president of Egypt was deposed and people did drugs openly In tahrir. But at least they got high. Tobacco companies created the form of deceit used by the fossil fuel industry to fuel doubt around climate. The legitmacy of this industry needs to be abolished. it's a plant, let people grow it and smoke if they really want to.