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The public smoking ban has finally reached Tirol – a veritable anathema for all passionate smokers.

Tiroleans have been clinging to their weathered pipes for centuries and smoking was very much part of their daily life and culture – a fact that is reflected in the language used. The old expression about “drinking smoke” clearly indicates that tobacco was considered somewhat a staple. This was especially true for Tirol’s Oberland region. It is hard to believe, but Tirol was a split country when it came to the enjoyment of tobacco!

It was mainly in the Oberland, and here mostly in Lechtal, Außerfern and Leutasch, that for the people smoking was second nature. Few people would be seen without a pipe in their mouths and even eight and nine-year old children were running around with pipes sticking out of their mouths. The same was true for women.

The people from the Unterland region, however, preferred “smokeless tobacco” or tobacco chewing. Chewing tobacco was sold as leaf tobacco (packaged in a pouch) or plug tobacco (in brick form). Both were placed between the cheek and gum and had to be be mechanically crushed with the teeth to release their flavor and nicotine. Unwanted juices were then expectorated – arguably not the most aesthetically pleasing way to consume tobacco. In addition smokeless tobacco caused bad breath and discolored teeth.

Today chewing tobacco has become very rare, maybe for the above reasons. But who knows: maybe the new smoking ban will bring back smokeless tobacco. And instead of overflowing ashtrays we will once more be confronted with the wonderfully repulsive spittoons. Certainly a new challenge for upscale restaurants and bars!

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