EXPLAINED: The public spaces where Spain will ban smoking and vaping

Spanish Health Minister Mónica García on Thursday confirmed that the country's new anti-smoking draft bill has been finalised, legislation aims to place Spain at the forefront of smoke-free policy making.

This new legislation, which still has to be approved by the Council of Ministers and then passed by the Spanish Congress, seeks to protect public health, especially that of vulnerable groups such as minors and pregnant women.

“We have always said it. It is time to be ambitious in the fight against smoking, one of the main threats to public health causing 30 percent of cancers,’ García said in a statement.

García noted that smoke-free public spaces “are backed by scientific evidence, international experience” and EU recommendations, as well as being “supported by a majority of citizens, including smokers, who are asking us to take a firm stance against the scourge of tobacco.”

These measures will also apply to electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products, putting them on a par with conventional tobacco in terms of restrictions.

To this end, the Ministry highlights the need to ensure “safe and healthy environments for the entire population, especially vulnerable groups such as minors and pregnant women” to ensure that everyone has the right not to be exposed to smoke involuntarily.”

Where will smoking be banned in Spain?

The new Anti-smoking Law reforms establish a series of public spaces where smoking will be banned, including:

• Bar and restaurant terraces
• Bus shelters
• Work vehicles
• University campuses and educational establishments, including playgrounds
• Sports facilities and public swimming pools
• Outdoor spaces belonging to nightclubs and event halls.

This forms part of a wider national strategy that includes measures such as enforcing plain packaging for tobacco products and stronger regulation of new devices such as vapes and electronic cigarettes.

These include eliminating logos and distinctive brand colours on tobacco products, intended to reduce their commercial attractiveness, especially among young people.

The reforms also include stronger regulations of heated herbal products and nicotine pouches.

As The Local has reported in the past, the Spanish government is also moving forward with a ban on flavoured vapes as these additives can make products more attractive.

Another measure being considered is hiking the price of tobacco by raising taxes to act as a disincentive.

Spain took a major step to ban smoking in public spaces when in 2011 it put the no fumar (no smoking) signs up in all closed public spaces, including bars, restaurants and other hospitality venues.

Its first smoking ban was in 1988, when the Spanish government at the time banned smoking at schools and hospitals, followed by prohibiting tobacco ads on television in the same year.