Smoking in Spain.

Question

Is there a large amount of people who smoke in Spain? What sort of laws are imposed upon Spanish individuals related with smoking? Any sort of information would be great.

Thanks.

Answer 1

Spain

As of 1 January 2006, Spanish law bans smoking in offices, shops, schools, hospitals, cultural centres and on public transport, including stations and airports. The law also states that restaurants and bars over 100 m² can designate a smoking area, but that it has to be physically separated and may occupy at most 30% of the total floor space of the establishment. Establishments smaller than 100 m² may choose whether to allow or to prohibit smoking (most have allowed it). Additionally, the law prohibits the sale of tobacco products to persons under 18 years of age and limits the places in which tobacco can be sold.[111] Months later, the Community of Madrid established an illegal decree which states that restaurants over 100 m² are not required to make complete physical separation of the smoking and non-smoking areas. In January 2009, the High Court in Madrid overturned this decree[112] however the regional government presided by the conservative politician, Esperanza Aguirre, has not yet taken measures to enforce the law. According to the Spanish non-smoking party, 'Partido de los No Fumadores (PNF),[113] the Madrid region has failed to implement a satisfactory regime of inspections and the vast majority of bars and restaurants flout the law. The PNF has so far reported more than 2.500 bars and restaurants for failing to comply with the law.[114] Three other autonomous communities established decrees watering down the law, so that smoking areas are only required to be separated with ventilation systems.[115] See Spanish Antismoking Law. (Spanish) Since Spain is a somewhat decentralised country, a few autonomous communities, such as Madrid, Valencia, La Rioja, and Balearic Islands, have started an official but undeclared boycott of the Law, approved in the Spanish Parliament by unanimity. These communities are also using the courts to even make the law lighter, something impossible as the smoking ban law is a Spanish Basic Law that cannot be modified by local or autonomous governments. A new, stricter law has been already approved. Smoking will be banned in every indoor public place, including bars, clubs and restaurants, on 2 January 2011. Hotels will have 30% of smoking rooms, mental hospitals, jails and old people's homes will have separate large rooms where workers can not enter. It will also be banned in outdoor playpens.

From Wikipedia

Click to see the article there.

Thanks for your help!! - Seb79, Dec 5, 2010

Answer 2

Se calcula que en España,fuman 10 millones de personas y 34 millones no.

Sin embargo, entre el colectivo más dado a la fiesta, los números logicamente son diferentes:

El 45’66% del público de las zonas de ocio es fumador, el 41’72% es no fumador y el 12’41% es fumador ocasional.

Hay diferentes posturas,en función de los intereses sanitarios,económicos, etc en juego :

http://www.hosteleriadigital.es/asociaciones/21725/2-de-cada-3-clientes-de-los-locales-de-ocio-estan-a-favor-de-crear-zonas-de-fumadores

http://www.diariovasco.com/v/20101204/al-dia-sociedad/euskadi-registra-muerte-cada-20101204.html

La OMS felicita por la nueva ley antitabaco:

http://www.elpais.com/articulo/sociedad/OMS/felicita/parlamentarios/proyecto/ley/antitabaco/elpepusocsal/20101201elpepusoc_8/Tes

Muchas gracias!!! :) - Seb79, Dec 5, 2010

Answer 3

It's very easy to find bars and restaurants that permit smoking in Barcelona, the same goes for the Balearic Islands.

Yes, When I have stayed in Pineda de Mar I have hd to physically move tables to get away from the smell of smoke near my food it made me feel quite sick - FELIZ77, Dec 5, 2010

had to physically ...etc...(Pineda de Mar is about 1 hour train ride from Barcelona) - FELIZ77, Dec 5, 2010

Answer 4

I don't know, but I see a TON of people smoking around here everywhere. The only restrictions would have to do with public institutions/areas, but that's nothing new, just like the USA. A mi parecer, I feel like I run into a LOT more smokers here in Spain than I ever did in the states.

-Charlius-

Answer 5

Seb said:

So, in Spain there is virtually no smoking allowed ....

This is much to general of a statement. Some cities and towns have banned smoking in public places, but not all. If I were you (doing a report on the subject) I'd pick a few cities to focus on, e.g., Madrid, Barcelona, etc., and compare the different laws.

Answer 6

Oh, I'm speaking from experience in southern Andalucia, Spain, though I imagine that the stuff I've seen with tobacco and other 'smokable' substances can be applied to much of the country.

-Charlius-

Answer 7

I don't know, but I see a TON of people smoking around here everywhere. The only restrictions would have to do with public institutions/areas, but that's nothing new, just like the USA. A mi parecer, I feel like I run into a LOT more smokers here in Spain than I ever did in the states.

Whereabouts in Spain? Is it in one specific region or in general?

That ban is 'limited' to those public places. Bars and restaurants are full of smoke at the moment.. we'll see what happens after New Year, when the new reform kicks in and smoking is banned in bars and restaurants. - bill1111, Dec 5, 2010

Answer 8

So, in Spain there is virtually no smoking allowed as there are massive restrictions put in place by the government?