Calls for ban on home balcony smoking in Spain with bar terrace prohibition looming
Spain is considering expanded anti-tobacco laws, including bans on smoking in outdoor public spaces and restrictions on vapes, alongside calls to protect residents from secondhand smoke.Summary
The Spanish government has drafted a bill to amend its anti-tobacco laws, aiming to expand smoke-free areas to include bar and restaurant terraces, beaches, sports facilities, and near public buildings. The proposed legislation will also regulate vapes and e-cigarettes similarly to traditional tobacco and ban single-use vapes due to environmental and youth appeal concerns. Advertising for tobacco products will be entirely prohibited across all media. Simultaneously, the Nofumadores association is advocating for further protections, specifically a ban on secondhand smoke entering homes through windows and balconies, and for mandatory disclosure of smoking history when selling properties. They highlight the health risks and the need for regulations similar to those in California, where third-hand smoke is recognized as an environmental hazard. A citizens’ initiative supporting smoke-free homes has already gathered over 25,000 signatures, demonstrating public concern over this issue.
(Source：Majorca Daily Bulletin)
