YEAR-ENDER - FACTBOX - From generational bans to outdoor restrictions: How countries tightened smoking laws in 2025
In 2025, countries worldwide implemented stricter anti-smoking laws, including generational bans, outdoor restrictions, and crackdowns on vaping products.Summary
Throughout 2025, numerous countries significantly tightened their smoking laws, moving beyond traditional restrictions in bars and offices to encompass outdoor public spaces, access to nicotine products, and measures aimed at preventing youth smoking. The Maldives introduced a pioneering generational ban, prohibiting tobacco sales to anyone born after 2007. Belgium banned disposable vapes, while France expanded outdoor smoking bans to areas frequented by children. Mexico proposed severe penalties for vape-related offenses, and Milan implemented a broad outdoor smoking ban. Experts emphasize that these laws primarily protect non-smokers and are often met with strong opposition from the tobacco industry, signaling their effectiveness. The World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) remains a crucial tool for governments seeking to reduce tobacco use, with a global decline in tobacco use observed from 2010 to 2024, though vaping rates are rising, particularly among adolescents. Continued efforts are planned to counter industry interference and strengthen tobacco control measures globally.
(Source：Anadolu Ajansı)
