Holidaymakers and locals in Spain will soon have to bid farewell to the ability to smoke on its popular bar and restaurant terraces, as the Government has approved a bill that will ban tobacco in many new areas. Until now, these terraces, many of which are hotspots for tourists on Spain’s most popular holiday islands, like Majorca and Ibiza, have been a lifeline for smokers after the practice was banned inside venues several years ago.
However, this all looks set to change as the Spanish Government moves to close the final loophole. Once the bill is implemented, smoking will be prohibited in public swimming pools, bus shelters, stations, playgrounds and university campuses. There will also be a 49-foot zone around hospitals, schools and social centres where smoking will also be prohibited. Concerts, outdoor shows and popular festivals will also join the list of smoke-free spaces. In addition, penalties for breaching the rules will be tightened, with fines reaching eye-watering costs in the most serious cases, for both smokers and those who fail to comply with the new rules.
The announcement comes as the Government has increased the price of many popular cigarette brands by €0.25 (£0.22) a packet. The new prices take effect over the weekend, with popular models now costing €6.25 (£5.47).
Under the new rules, fines for breaking regulations could now reach a staggering €600,000 (£525,000) in the most serious cases. Bars must display mandatory signs clearly informing customers of the ban, and, if they fail to comply, will also be subject to penalties, although the amount of these penalties has not yet been determined.
Smoking in public indoor places and workplaces has been banned since 2011. The practice is also already prohibited on public transport, children’s playgrounds and educational facilities, including some outdoor spaces.
According to recent figures from Spain’s Ministry of Health, 28.9% of men and 22.6% of women smoke daily in Spain. Overall, the prevalence of smoking in Spain decreased from 38.4% in 1987 to 22.1% in 2020.
In 2020, 13.5% of the Spanish population aged 15 and older was exposed to secondhand smoke indoors. Deaths attributed to this have decreased following the introduction of anti-smoking legislation.
A citizens’ association has demanded further reform of Spain’s smoking laws. The Nofumadores (no smoking) association has called on Spain’s health ministry to include protection against secondhand smoke entering homes through windows, terraces and ventilation ducts in its smoking law reforms.
One affected Spaniard reportedly told the association: “My 80-year-old mother can’t go out onto the terrace or even get some sun,” because every time she opens the door, the neighbour’s smoke fills the apartment.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
