The Swiss cattle shows where six-year-olds smoke

Visitors to the cow shows currently being held in Appenzell in eastern Switzerland will be amazed not only by the ornately decorated bovine headdresses, but by young children legally lighting up cigarettes, cigars and pipes.  “On Funkensonntag [Spark Sunday, see box] and at the cantonal cattle shows in Appenzell, children are allowed to smoke,” said Rosalia Keller, spokeswoman for Appenzell tourism in Appenzell Inner Rhodes.  Where the tradition comes from, Keller doesn’t know – she says it’s always been like that – but she admits that it’s “certainly a paradox that while smoking is being banned in more and more places, in Appenzell even children can do it”.  Puffing youngsters are also found in the neighbouring half-canton Appenzell Ausser Rhodes, according to farmer Max Fürer, 61. He also smoked at cattle shows as a child but is now a non-smoker.  “The kids don’t do it right,” he said. “They puff it out rather than inhale.”  Fellow farmer Albert ...