Top takeaways:
- Spain is advancing a nationwide proposal to ban smoking and vaping in outdoor public spaces, including restaurant terraces and bar patios.
- The measure will apply to traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and heated tobacco devices, placing Spain among the EU’s most proactive countries on tobacco control.
- The draft bill must still pass through government and parliamentary channels before becoming law.
Spain’s government is taking significant steps to broaden its anti-smoking laws, with a proposed ban on smoking and vaping in outdoor public spaces, including popular areas like restaurant terraces and bar patios, Health Minister Mónica García announced on Thursday.
In an interview with Cadena SER radio, García confirmed that a “concrete draft of the bill” had been completed. The legislation, which still requires review by the Council of Ministers and a vote in Spain’s lower house of Parliament, would mark one of the country’s most sweeping efforts yet to curb tobacco and nicotine use in public.
“Our goal is to place Spain at the forefront of the fight against smoking,” García said. “This is a step forward in protecting public health and ensuring smoke-free environments, especially in spaces frequented by children and families.”
The proposed restrictions would apply not only to combustible tobacco products but also to e-cigarettes and heated tobacco devices—a move that aligns with growing European Union recommendations to expand smoke-free areas to include all nicotine-delivery systems.
Expanded Ban Targets Outdoor and Shared Spaces
The draft legislation outlines a range of outdoor and semi-public spaces that would fall under the proposed ban. These include:
- Restaurant and café terraces
- Bar patios and outdoor entertainment areas
- School playgrounds and university campuses
- Public transport shelters and stations
- Outdoor festivals and public events
- Company vehicles used for work transport
If approved, the bill would further cement Spain’s focus on tobacco control, building on its earlier reforms in 2006 and 2011 that banned smoking inside enclosed public spaces and workplaces.
“We’ve come a long way since our first smoke-free laws,” said García. “But new products and behaviors have emerged, and we must respond with updated, science-based policy.”
Unlike earlier smoking bans, the current proposal explicitly includes non-combustible products such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco devices.
“It’s important to recognize that these devices also emit substances that affect air quality and bystanders,” García explained. “Just because there’s no smoke doesn’t mean there’s no risk.”
The move follows similar initiatives in other EU countries. France announced plans to restrict smoking on outdoor café terraces as part of its national tobacco control plan. Italy, meanwhile, has considered similar measures since 2023, though nationwide legislation has yet to materialize.
The ban on public smoking is part of Spain’s broader National Tobacco Prevention and Control Plan, which includes a tobacco tax increase, stronger advertising restrictions, and expanded cessation services for those trying to quit.
The Ministry of Health has pledged new resources to improve access to smoking cessation aids, including behavioral support and subsidized medications. The objective is not only to deter smoking in public but to reduce national smoking prevalence over time.
“We can’t just rely on bans,” García noted. “We need to provide pathways for smokers to quit, which is why this plan includes financial support and medical resources for anyone seeking to leave nicotine behind.”
EU-Wide Momentum Toward Tobacco-Free Environments
Spain’s proposed legislation follows guidance issued by the European Commission, which has urged member states to expand smoking bans to include new nicotine products and broaden the scope of protected public areas.
The Commission has expressed concern over the normalization of nicotine use in spaces where children and families congregate, as well as the growing environmental burden of discarded cigarette butts and vape cartridges.
“What we’re seeing across Europe is a shift toward prioritizing public space for health, not smoking,” said Dr. Luis Pascual, a public health researcher at the University of Barcelona. “Spain’s draft law is timely and aligns with international best practices.”
Environmental groups have also welcomed the proposed expansion, citing the growing pollution from discarded vaping devices and filters. They argue that banning public use will reduce litter and improve urban cleanliness.
