A split between culture and health

In Copenhagen, the debate over smoking indoors reveals a clear divide between culture and public health. On one side are smokers and pub owners who argue that Denmark’s traditional “brown bars” lose their atmosphere without indoor smoking. On the other are health advocates who warn that smoking in enclosed spaces endangers others and discourages many people from visiting local bars.

Charlotta H. Pisinger, one of Denmark’s leading tobacco experts, supports stricter regulations, including higher tobacco taxes. Research consistently shows that price increases are among the most effective ways to reduce smoking. Tobacco use triples the overall risk of cancer, and around 14,000 Danes die each year from smoking-related causes, including 3,000 from lung cancer. Passive smoking remains a serious health risk.

These arguments clash with deeply rooted habits. For many Danes, smoke-filled brown bars symbolize nostalgia, intimacy, and community. Others believe Denmark must prioritize clean air and public health over tradition.

This divide is especially noticeable to outsiders. Rory, a visitor from the United States, said she felt uncomfortable when people smoked next to her, particularly in confined spaces. In street interviews in Copenhagen, eight out of ten people said they disliked the smell of tobacco, showing how a long-standing tradition can feel exclusionary to many today.

This story is for an audience interested in Nordic culture and lifestyle trends and could be published on www.monocle.com.