Spain is preparing to significantly expand its public smoking restrictions by banning smoking on bar and restaurant terraces, as well as in other outdoor public areas, Health Minister Mónica García announced Thursday.
The proposal includes not only traditional tobacco but also electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco devices.
In an interview with Cadena SER radio, García revealed that the government has finalized a draft bill to implement the ban, which must still undergo review by the Council of Ministers and approval in the Spanish Parliament’s lower house.
“We want to place Spain at the forefront of the fight against smoking,” García said, emphasizing the public health objective of the legislation.
Expanded Scope of the Ban
In addition to hospitality terraces, the proposed law would prohibit smoking in:
The draft bill is part of a broader anti-smoking initiative launched by Spain’s left-wing coalition government more than a year ago. The initiative also includes increased support for smoking cessation programs and higher taxes on tobacco products and their alternatives.
EU-Wide Push Against Public Smoking
Spain’s move aligns with similar efforts in other European countries responding to the European Commission’s recommendation to extend smoking bans to more public spaces, including those involving e-cigarettes.
France announced in September 2024 that it was developing a nationwide ban on smoking in outdoor café terraces.
Italy has discussed similar legislation since 2023, though only Milan has enacted a local ban so far, with a pilot program proposed in Rome.
Beyond the EU, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed last year that his government was exploring stricter outdoor smoking regulations for pubs and restaurants to reduce preventable deaths.
Industry Pushback
While public health advocates have welcomed the initiative, critics argue the measures could be too restrictive and economically damaging. Small businesses, especially in the hospitality sector, warn they may lose customers if smoking is prohibited even in outdoor seating areas.
The legislation is expected to spark intense debate as it advances through Spain’s legislative process, but if passed, it would mark one of the most comprehensive smoking bans in Europe, further cementing Spain’s place in the EU’s collective effort to curb tobacco-related harm.
A South Korean court has sentenced former president Yoon Suk Yeol to 30 years in prison over charges linked to a military drone operation involving No...
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to become the biggest tournament in football history....
An adviser to the European Union’s top court said on Thursday that the European Commission’s appeal against a 2024 ruling, which required disclosu...
Migrants in the U.S. who were prevented from being sent back to their home country due to the risk of persecution are set to be deported to the war-to...
Finance ministers across East Africa unveiled their 2026/27 budgets on Thursday, as investors assessed how governments plan to protect their economies...
A South Korean court has sentenced former president Yoon Suk Yeol to 30 years in prison over charges linked to a military drone operation involving North Korea.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to become the biggest tournament in football history.
An adviser to the European Union’s top court said on Thursday that the European Commission’s appeal against a 2024 ruling, which required disclosure of information on COVID-19 vaccine contracts, should be dismissed.
Migrants in the U.S. who were prevented from being sent back to their home country due to the risk of persecution are set to be deported to the war-torn Central African Republic.
Mexico and South Africa meet in Thursday’s World Cup opener in Mexico City, with both teams approaching the match from very different positions but facing their own pressures.
SpaceX has made history with the largest initial public offering ever in the United States, pricing its shares at $135 each and achieving a market valuation of $1.77 trillion.
The Pakistani city of Karachi is struggling under severe heat and humidity as the country enters a prolonged heatwave period. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has warned of above-normal temperatures across much of the country between 7 and 12 June.
Ukraine's military said it struck a Russian "shadow fleet" tanker in the Black Sea as part of ongoing efforts to disrupt Moscow's energy and logistics networks. The move underscores Kyiv's focus on targeting maritime assets it says are used to bypass sanctions on Russian oil exports.
U.S. forces say they have completed strikes on Iranian military sites near the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded with missile attacks on an American base in Jordan, marking a sharp escalation in tensions between the two sides.
A South Korean court has sentenced former president Yoon Suk Yeol to 30 years in prison over charges linked to a military drone operation involving North Korea.
An adviser to the European Union’s top court said on Thursday that the European Commission’s appeal against a 2024 ruling, which required disclosure of information on COVID-19 vaccine contracts, should be dismissed.
Migrants in the U.S. who were prevented from being sent back to their home country due to the risk of persecution are set to be deported to the war-torn Central African Republic.
Finance ministers across East Africa unveiled their 2026/27 budgets on Thursday, as investors assessed how governments plan to protect their economies from shocks linked to the ongoing Iran war while managing rising debt levels.
More than a third of Belgium’s population now has a foreign background, according to new figures released by the national statistics office, Statbel. The data show that around 4.34 million of the country’s nearly 11.7 million residents do not have an entirely Belgian background.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment