- 16.09.2026
- News
Appenzell Innerrhoden breaks with a 150-year-old tradition in favour of tobacco prevention
By Christian Winiker
Like a magnet, idyllic Appenzell draws tourists with its charming landscape, picturesque villages, lush meadows and colourful traditional costumes. Last year, this largely agricultural half-canton recorded 190,000 overnight stays. It is also a symbol of deeply rooted traditions: the “Vechschau”, the cattle show held every October since the mid-19th century, is the most important day of the year for local farmers.
What counts here are not the cows’ inner qualities, such as milk production, but their outward appearance: quite simply, it is all about beauty. Of the roughly 15,000 cows, 600 make it to the final on the Brauereiplatz. From among the magnificently groomed, adorned and decorated animals, a jury crowns the winner of the day.
Brothers Marco (left) and Thomas Inauen smoke at the cattle show in Appenzell on Tuesday, October 8, 2013. Traditionally, children are also allowed to smoke at cattle shows and on Funkensonntag. (KEYSTONE/Gian Ehrenzeller)
Smoking as part of the culture
At the cattle show, people celebrate, eat, drink and smoke – whether cigars, a “Krumme”, or colourful tobacco pipes that are small works of art in their own right. The big surprise is not that people still smoke, but who does it: even children can be seen puffing on cigarettes – not in secret, but in full view of everyone. It may not be legal, but it is part of the tradition. From next year, however, that will come to an end.
The Tobacco Products Act, which came into force in 2024, stipulates, among other things, that cigars and cigarillos may only be distributed free of charge or sold with age verification and in restricted areas, for example at concerts. Poster advertising in public spaces, as well as advertising on public transport, in public buildings, cinemas and sports grounds, is also prohibited.
Just one year later, Parliament decided on further restrictions. Stricter bans are now planned at points of sale, online and on social media. The cantons are free to adopt measures that go further – and that is precisely what the Grand Council decided on 22 June. From 2027, for example, tobacco tastings will be banned altogether. The decision is all the more surprising given that Appenzell Innerrhoden has traditionally taken a liberal approach to tobacco consumption.
From die-hard traditionalists to pioneers in youth protection
The reason it has come to this is that enforcing the laws has proved extremely difficult. It was therefore decided to ban sales promotions altogether. “Even Innerrhoden can be a pioneer for once,” says cantonal parliamentarian Karin Inauen Mäder in an interview with Regionaljournal Ostschweiz, not without pride. It is also a dig at all those who regard Appenzell as a bastion of die-hard traditionalists who reject on principle anything that comes “from Bern”.
For Appenzell, the decision is nothing short of revolutionary, says Health Director Monika Rüegg Bless. The lively debate revolved around a fundamental question: liberal legislation or better protection for young people? In the end, the latter prevailed.
Even though the ruling affects relatively few people – Innerrhoden has a population of just 17,000 – the decision carries considerable symbolic weight. After decades of campaigning, preventive medicine specialists can breathe a sigh of relief.
The queen of the day will still be crowned – but without children with cigarettes in their mouths
But there is no need to worry – traditions are not simply thrown overboard in Appenzell. For the foreseeable future, the colourful cattle show will continue to take place every year, with the most beautiful cow in the land crowned queen of the day.
Just without children and teenagers smoking.