Spain Fights Tobacco: New Smoking and Vaping Restrictions on the Horizon
Spain will ban smoking on outdoor terraces and regulate vaping like cigarettes, aiming to reduce tobacco-related deaths.Summary
Spain is preparing to implement new anti‑smoking measures that will ban smoking on outdoor terraces and extend smoke‑free zones to public building entrances, playgrounds, and sports venues. The draft bill also classifies e‑cigarettes and other nicotine products as tobacco, subjecting them to the same regulations as traditional cigarettes.
Health Minister Monica Garcia said the reforms are designed to curb the country’s roughly 50,000 annual tobacco‑related deaths and the 30 % of cancer cases linked to smoking. The legislation faces opposition from a fragmented parliament, with some parties arguing that the rules could push smokers into private spaces and harm the hospitality industry.
If passed, Spain would reinforce its leadership in tobacco control and set a precedent for stricter vaping regulations across Europe.
(Source：Devdiscourse)
