On 1 January 2008 Bavaria’s law to protect non-smokers came into force. Beer tents and smokers’ clubs were exempt. After the 2008 state election, the new government loosened the law. From 1 August 2009, smoking was again allowed in small pubs with one room and in side rooms of restaurants. A citizens’ initiative then collected more than 1.3 million signatures within two weeks. On 4 July 2010, 61 percent of voters in a referendum chose smoke-free restaurants and pubs. From 1 August 2010 all exceptions were abolished, including those for beer tents. Ten years later, in 2020, smoking in restaurants, pubs and beer tents in Bavaria was still completely banned.