Spain is set to introduce stricter rules on smoking and vaping, expanding bans to beaches, bar terraces, and other outdoor spaces. The Spanish government has approved new legislation that would prohibit the use of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches, and other tobacco-related products in a wide range of public areas.
The proposed ban covers beaches, bar and restaurant terraces, bus stops, sports stadiums, public swimming pools, playgrounds, and outdoor events such as shows and festivals. This extends existing restrictions, which already ban indoor smoking and vaping, and local measures in areas like Barcelona and the Balearic Islands.
In Barcelona, all city beaches have been smoke- and vape-free since 2022. Beaches in Mallorca, Ibiza, and Menorca also enforce similar bans. In the Canary Islands, councils in Tenerife, Lanzarote, and Gran Canaria have designated popular beaches as clean-air zones, with on-the-spot fines ranging from €30 to €2,000 (£26 to £1,730) depending on whether the offender is a first-time offender.
The legislation, which has passed but is not yet law, also includes a ban on advertising, sponsoring, or promoting tobacco and vaping products. The move follows the health ministry's confirmation that tobacco kills around 140 people daily in Spain, with about 30% of cancer tumours linked to tobacco use.
A citizens' association has called for further protections against secondhand smoke entering homes through windows and ventilation from neighbouring properties. Brits planning holidays in Spain are advised to check the latest travel advice, as the rules are expected to come into force within the coming months.
