Spain is moving towards stricter restrictions on smoking and the use of e-cigarettes, which are also expected to affect tourists in the country.
According to a new bill proposed by Spain’s coalition government, conventional cigarettes, e-cigarettes, herbal products, hookahs and devices used to heat tobacco and other substances will be banned in outdoor spaces, such as beaches, restaurants and bars, stadiums, sports centers, playgrounds, bus stops and educational facilities.
“We will always put public health before private interests,” said Health Minister Monica Garcia, adding that “everyone has the right to breathe clean air and live better and longer.”
The bill has sparked backlash from restaurant and bar owners, who say Spain’s outdoor dining and drinking culture relies in part on customers who smoke. Indoor smoking has been banned since 2011.
Spain traditionally attracts visitors with its sunshine, culture and the availability of cheap cigarettes and tax-free products, and the government aims to impose tighter restrictions on the advertising and distribution of these products.
The proposed legislation also seeks to impose stricter controls on the marketing and distribution of vaping and electronic cigarettes, as part of broader tobacco control efforts.
Spain follows the lead of other European countries, such as France, which banned outdoor smoking in July, although with exceptions for cafes and bars and no restrictions on e-cigarettes.
Statistics from the Spanish Ministry of Health show that tobacco-related diseases cause over 50,000 deaths a year in the country – around 137 a day.
The final approval of the bill remains under discussion in the Spanish parliament, with possible amendments before it is implemented.
