Spain Proposes Ban on Smoking and Vaping at Beaches and Terraces

Spain's Minister of Health, Mónica García, has proposed a new bill that would ban smoking and vaping on beaches and in outdoor restaurant seating areas. The proposed regulations also aim to strengthen controls surrounding the use of e-cigarettes and other tobacco products.

If approved by the Spanish parliament, the legislation would expand the smoking ban to other public spaces, including sports facilities, universities, public swimming pools, and event grounds. Smoking would also be prohibited in company vehicles. Additionally, a 15-meter smoke-free zone would be established around the entrances of schools, healthcare facilities, and playgrounds.

The new rules would encompass nicotine pouches, snus, water pipes, and heated tobacco products. Furthermore, all forms of advertising for smoking and nicotine products in public and communal areas would be forbidden. The proposed measures also target the use of vapes and other electronic devices, with stricter regulations planned.

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The Spanish hospitality industry is not in favor of the smoking ban. According to the sector organization, the government would have been better off waiting for the revision of European regulations. They warn that Spain could otherwise become an 'exception in Europe'.

Spain's hospitality industry has voiced strong opposition to the proposed ban. The sector's representative organization argues that the government should have waited for a review of European regulations, warning that Spain could become an "exception in Europe." They also express concerns that the ban might lead more people to smoke at home, potentially increasing secondhand smoke exposure for family members.

Minister García emphasized the need to update current regulations, citing the protection of minors as a key objective. While minors are already prohibited from purchasing tobacco products, their use is not explicitly forbidden. A Spanish study indicates that vape usage among young people has doubled in the past six years, highlighting concerns about youth addiction.

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García emphasizes that the rules need to be renewed. The protection of minors is, according to her, one of the most important objectives of the reform.