Spain expands smoking ban to bar and restaurant terraces

Spain is set to expand its smoking ban to include open-air terraces of bars and restaurants, and will regulate vaping products with the same restrictions applied to conventional cigarettes, according to Health Minister Mónica García. This move aligns Spain with a growing trend among European nations like Britain and France, which are increasingly tightening tobacco and vaping regulations, citing public health threats and economic burdens.

The draft legislation, however, still requires approval in a fragmented parliament. The main opposition People's Party has indicated its support is contingent on the establishment of designated smoking areas and guarantees that the hospitality industry will not suffer negative economic consequences. Minister García stated the plan's objective is to position Spain among the leaders in tobacco control, building on earlier reforms that banned smoking in indoor workplaces in 2005 and in bars and restaurants in 2010.

"Times have changed, new products have emerged, and there are new public health needs," García told reporters. She noted that tobacco use contributes to approximately 140 deaths daily in Spain, totaling 50,000 annually, and that smoking is a risk factor linked to 30% of cancer cases. Smoking on outdoor terraces was temporarily prohibited during the COVID-19 pandemic, but these measures were later lifted. The Spanish hospitality sector's main association has expressed disagreement with the proposed ban, arguing it would be ineffective and might encourage smokers to move indoors, increasing passive smoke exposure.

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Times have changed, new products have emerged, and there are new public health needs.