News outlets in Spain as well as news agency Reuters report that Spain’s minority government unveiled a drastic anti-smoking bill last week.
It would outlaw lighting up in many outdoor public spaces, from beaches and bus stops to bar and restaurant terraces and sports stadiums. The measure also covers vaping and e-cigarettes, whose popularity among young people has surged.
“We’ll always put public health ahead of private interests,” Health Minister Mónica García told reporters. “Everyone has a right to breathe clean air and live longer, healthier lives.”
According to the Tobacco Atlas, a quarter of Spaniards are smoking, equivalent to over 10.1 million people. Tobacco Atlas indicate that 10% of all deaths in Spain are a consequence of smoking. Health ministry data show smoking kills more than 50,000 Spaniards annually—about 137 people every day.
The proposal, which still needs parliamentary approval, could be amended. The future law faces stiff pushback from the hospitality industry. Year-round outdoor terraces are a hallmark of Spanish social life and a favored spot for smokers. Indoor smoking has been banned since 2011.
Spain’s plan follows France’s July crackdown on smoking in public spaces, though Paris stopped short of restricting café terraces or e-cigarettes. Europe remains the world’s heaviest-smoking region, with roughly a quarter of adults lighting up.
The bill, approved by Spain’s cabinet, does not mandate plain cigarette packaging. In contrary to 25 countries which already implement it, according to the WHO.
