Spain’s left-wing minority government has advanced a bold draft tobacco law, now approved by cabinet, to rein in smoking and vaping in a wide array of public spaces, with an eye on public health and shifting consumption habits .

 

Under the proposal, smoking and vaping—including e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches, herbal smoking items, shisha, and tobacco-heating devices—would be banned in both indoor and outdoor settings. This spans bar and restaurant terraces, stadiums, sports centres, playgrounds, bus stops, and educational facilities . Advertising, marketing, or sponsorship of these products would also be prohibited .

 

The bill extends familiar indoor bans first enacted in 2005 (workplaces) and 2010 (bars, restaurants), updating them for modern products and outdoor realities . Health Minister Mónica García Gómez framed the law as restoring Spain's leadership in tobacco control, citing that smoking contributes to roughly 50,000 deaths annually in the country—about 140 per day—and is linked to 30 percent of cancers .

 

Yet the draft is not without controversy: proposals for plain (generic) cigarette packaging and tax hikes on tobacco products were dropped amid internal government disagreements . Anti-smoking groups, like the CNPT, voiced alarm that without plain packaging—adopted by 40+ countries—the law may fall short of curbing youth uptake .

 

The bill still needs parliamentary approval and may be shaped further in debate. If enacted, it would significantly widen smoke-free zones in Spain, especially on terraces.

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

Terrace and outdoor smoking ban: Smoking and vaping—including e-cigs, herbal products, and nicotine pouches—would be prohibited on bar and restaurant terraces, stadiums, bus stops, playgrounds, and more.

 

Expanded regulation beyond tobacco: The draft extends restrictions to modern alternatives, banning advertising and treating them like conventional cigarettes.

 

Missing features spark concern: Plain packaging and tax increases were dropped, drawing criticism from health advocates even as the government seeks to modernise tobacco control.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/09/spanish-government-moves-ban-smoking-bar-terraces

 

 

 

Left wing govts love nanny stateism and banning fun and relaxation the world over. 

Don't worry, they'll be after the fatties next followed by drinkers