Spain bans smoking on beaches and terraces

The Spanish Ministry of Health wants to ban smoking on terraces, but also on beaches, in stadiums and in cars when a minor or a pregnant woman is on board. These provisions are included in the draft of the anti-smoking plan for the period 2021-2025. This plan aims to nationally harmonize measures, some of which are already in force locally[1].

The new law, which the Ministry of Health is working on, is expected to come into force at the end of 2023, and will revise the 2010 law that banned smoking inside bars and restaurants. This legislation was poorly respected because the creation of closed outdoor terraces where people smoke had become widespread. With this new text, the Spanish government hopes to achieve the objective set with the World Health Organization (WHO) of reducing smoking prevalence by 30% between 2010 and 2025.

A ban on smoking on terraces already implemented locally

Seven autonomous communities in Spain have already adopted the “Terrazas sin Humo” (Smoke-free terraces) measure in 2020[2] as a way to limit the spread of the COVID virus by banning the smoking of traditional and electronic cigarettes on outdoor terraces of bars and restaurants if a distance of two meters between individuals is not guaranteed. In its new plan, the government thus proposes to generalize this ban throughout the country. This change in national regulations would also include certain spaces in the private sphere such as vehicles where smoking will be prohibited in the presence of a minor or a pregnant woman.

A set of strong measures to achieve a tobacco-free generation in Spain

Unlike some of its European neighbours such as France, which have implemented an arsenal of measures to combat smoking and achieve a tobacco-free generation in the coming years, Spain has not developed a clear and effective strategy since 2010. In 2020, more than 32% of the population aged 15 and over consumed tobacco daily and smoking is the cause of more than 51,000 premature deaths in the country.

With this new law, the Spanish government also wants to introduce neutral packaging for manufactured cigarettes, significantly increase taxes on tobacco and introduce a special tax for electronic cigarettes.

In March 2022, some anti-smoking associations asked the Ministry of Health to ban the sale of tobacco to people born since 2007, as planned in Denmark[3], so that young people cannot legally access tobacco products or e-cigarettes and thus achieve a tobacco-free generation.

Keywords: Spain, Smoking ban, terraces, tobacco-free generation

AE

[1] Spain to ban smoking on beaches and terraces, Le Petit journal, April 1, 2022, consulted on April 4, 2022

[2] Generation without tobacco, Spanish region of Galicia bans smoking on the street due to Covid19, August 13, 2020, accessed April 4, 2022

[3] Generation without tobacco, Denmark wants to ban sale of nicotine products to anyone born after 2010, March 18, 2022, accessed April 4, 2022