Spain moves to ban smoking on terraces, beaches and other outdoor areas
Spain's government, represented by Health Minister Mónica García, has approved a draft anti‑tobacco law that would extend smoke‑free zones to outdoor terraces of bars and restaurants, beaches, public swimming pools, bus shelters, train platforms, sports facilities and a 15‑metre buffer around schools, hospitals, universities and other public buildings.
The proposal also places e‑cigarettes, vapes, heated tobacco devices, hookahs and similar products under the same restrictions, bans their advertising and limits sales to specialised outlets.
Citing roughly 50,000 tobacco‑related deaths per year and the role of smoking in about 30 % of cancers, the draft aims to create a “tobacco‑free generation”. Penalties for serious breaches can reach €600,000, while minors caught smoking or vaping could be fined €200‑€600, with parents potentially held liable.
The measure still requires parliamentary approval; the left‑wing government lacks a majority and faces opposition from the hospitality sector, which warns the ban could harm tourism and jobs in the country’s heavily outdoor‑dining culture.