It’s been said since August 2009 that Spain would impose a smoking ban in all closed public areas, i.e. clubs, restaurants and bars at the beginning of 2010.
The current legislation which has been in place since 2006 forbids smoking in the workplace and on public transport, but permits the smaller bars and restaurants to choose whether to allow smoking on the premises or not. If they do allow it, they must provide a separate closed-off area for smokers. The subject has been confused at best and when a stronger law was first discussed properly in 2009, a specific date to impose the smoking ban in 2010 was never decided upon.
However in the North of Spain, the government has once again made plans to come down hard on smokers. The Basque regional government said last Wednesday that a stringent anti-smoking law is coming soon, which will make it illegal to smoke inside a car if a minor is present. Under the draft law, which now must be approved by the regional parliament, adults will also be banned from smoking in places like playgrounds that are destined for use by children.
The proposed public smoking ban in Spain has now been put back until 2011, raising doubts whether it will ever happen at all. The Minister for Health, Trinidad Jiménez, has been reported as saying that he is prepared to postpone the legislation for a year in the case of bars, following an avalanche of complaints from the hostelry sector and even the CEOE Employers’ organisation who profess to be deeply concerned about the effects of such a ban at this time of recession and following the increase in IVA which came into effect on July 1st. The tobacco companies have also predictably made representations and are calling for a five year delay.
Spain is one of the last countries in Western Europe to adopt a smoking ban and shows no signs of backing down entirely to become a “nanny state” just yet.
2 Comments
James Brown
I have been to several European Countries since smoking bans came in 2007 and I have to say Spain has the right balance in my opinion.
Bars can choose whether to be smoking or non smoking, as long as they clearly display signage to this effect and then customers can choose where they want to go to.
A relative, who owns a small Bar in an apartment complex in Gran Canaria, Spain asked his customers to vote last summer as to whether he should make it a no smoking bar or not and 97% voted for it to remain a smoking bar.
Democracy and the free market in action.
Rondetto
Here in the UK 40 pubs are closing every week, along with many social clubs. Inner town pubs either have no room or money to erect outside areas for smokers.
To have one designated room inside for those who like to smoke would bring back many pubs and clubs, and of course create jobs.
If Spain implement this ban, the loss of jobs and the loss of tourists will hit just as hard as it has here.