Schools to be Smoke-Free Zones

Two German states -- Hamburg and Bavaria -- have announced their intention to declare their schools smoke-free zones. A spokesman for the Hamburg government, Alexander Luckow, said that all previous attempts to stop students from smoking had not had the desired effect. "Voluntary measure are over," Luckow said, adding that Hamburg's minister for schools would introduce a law banning smoking. After an unsuccessful voluntary program in 30 Bavarian schools, the government in Munich has also vowed to pass a law making all schools smoke-free by 2008.