Spanish smoking ban takes effect in bars and restaurants

A ban on smoking in public places has gone into force in Spain today. Bars, restaurants, and nightclubs will now be smoke-free across the country.

The Spanish government had introduced voluntary regulations on smoking in 2006 which allowed for venues to ban smoking, but few chose to do so. The 2006 law also banned smoking at workplaces.

Spain now joins Ireland, the United Kingdom, France, and Italy in banning smoking in enclosed public places.

Leire Pajin, the Spanish health minister, said the law marked "a decisive step in the defence of the health of the Spanish people", but some industry representatives have expressed concern that business will go down following the ban.

• "Smoking ban in England comes into force" — Wikinews, July 1, 2007
• "Smoking in public places banned in France" — Wikinews, February 2, 2007
• "Ireland's smoking ban a success after first year" — Wikinews, March 28, 2005

• Spanish smokers enjoy last puffs ahead of new law — Yahoo! News, January 1, 2011
• Al Goodman. Smoking at Spanish restaurants, bars banned — CNN, January 1, 2011
• Spain's strict new anti-smoking rules take effect — BBC News, January 2, 2011

Source & Attribution

Originally published by Wikinews on January 2, 2011. Original author: Wikinews.

CC BY 2.5. Photograph: Smokers in many European countries must now go outside to have a cigarette.
Image: LoopZilla. Source file. CC BY-SA 3.0. CC BY-SA 3.0.

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