A new legislation has been approved by the Spanish government
The Spanish government have signed off on a bill that could see smoking and vaping banned in popular areas(Image: Getty)
Brits are being warned they could soon be banned from smoking and vaping in Spanish hotspots.
The Spanish government has approved a draft tobacco law that would ban locals and holidaymakers alike from smoking and vaping on bar and restaurant terraces and beaches.
The law would also prohibit minors from using vapes and related products, and end the sale of single-use electronic cigarettes.
The cabinet signed off on the bill on Tuesday (September 9) morning. The legislation still needs to be approved by parliament and could be amended. There is no indication yet of when these measures might come in.
Electronic cigarettes, nicotine pouches, herbal products, shisha pipes and devices used to heat tobacco and other substances would be treated the same as conventional cigarettes, reports the Mirror.
Their use would also be banned in enclosed public spaces, as well as in outdoor areas such as bar terraces, stadiums, sports centres, children’s play areas, bus stops and educational facilities.
Mónica García Gómez, the health minister, said the draft law intended to put Spain “back at the forefront of the fight against tobacco”. Smoking inside bars and restaurants in Spain was banned back in 2010, but since then, progress has been slow.
According to the Global Action to End Smoking report, 24.9% of the population used tobacco in some way in 2022, with higher rates of (27.5%) among men. In contrast, 11% of Brits smoke.
Ms Gómez added: “We know that tobacco claims the lives of 140 people a day in our country, which is 50,000 people a year. I also want to stress that 30% of cancer tumours are linked to the factors that come from tobacco use … We know that the reality has changed when it comes to tobacco and that there are new devices, such as vapes and tobacco-heating devices and nicotine pouches – and this law, for the first time, will regulate all these tobacco-related products, and it will regulate them in a clear and forceful way based on the scientific evidence.”
However, there is no plan to hike cigarette prices in the country, where a pack of 20 cigarettes can cost less than €6 (£5.20).
The proposal is also absent of any requirements for plain packaging on tobacco products, a measure that has been adopted by 25 nations, including the UK, according to World Health Organisation data.
Spain’s approach follows recent action taken by France in July. It is now illegal to smoke in outdoor places, including beaches, parks, public gardens, outside schools, bus stops and sports venues in France. The legislation, however, excludes café and bar terraces and electronic cigarettes from its restrictions.