Post Titled: Fake Smoking Ban in Berlin

In Berlin as of 1.1.2008 there is supposedly a smoking ban, however thus far I have seen little evidence of it. Only one cafe-lounge in the middle of a shopping center which I frequent on my lunch breaks has removed its ashtrays, but a neighboring cafe in the same complex still allows smoking, so- is the ban optional or what? Every bar adn resteraunt I have been in seems to still allow smoking,adn then, a suprising report from Reuters this morning:

BERLIN (Reuters) - The owner of a small German computer company has fired three non-smoking workers because they were threatening to disturb the peace after they requested a smoke-free environment.
The manager of the 10-person IT company in Buesum, named Thomas J., told the Hamburger Morgenpost newspaper he had fired the trio because their non-smoking was causing disruptions.
Germany introduced non-smoking rules in pubs and restaurants on January 1, but Germans working in small offices are still allowed to smoke.

"I can't be bothered with trouble-makers," Thomas was quoted saying. "We're on the phone all the time and it's just easier to work while smoking. Everyone picks on smokers these days. It's time for revenge. I'm only going to hire smokers from now on."

(Reporting by Sarah Roberts; editing by Giles Elgood)