It is now illegal to smoke in almost all public places, except for in the home, the street, and some bars, after the new anti-smoking law came into effect on 1st January 2006.

The first draft bill for the law was approved by Congress’s Health Commission in October 2005. The bill received its definitive approval from the Lower Chamber in December, after one hundred amendments were made by the Upper Chamber, the Spanish Senate.

The law has eight basic points:

1) Owners of bars and restaurants of less than 100 sq metres can decide if they want to allow smoking inside or not, and must clearly indicate that at the entrance. Larger premises must have a separate smoking area, which must be no larger than 30% of the premises, or a maximum of 300 sq metres. This point also applies to premises used for weddings or other social events.

2) Tobacco points of sale are reduced by up to 40%. Sales are only permitted in vending machines and in tobacconists.

3) There is no public funding for therapies to help smokers give up, a point which has divided a large part of the medical profession.

4) The under 18s cannot buy or sell tobacco, or products which may encourage them to smoke – for example, chocolate cigarrettes.

5) Smoking is not allowed in the workplace, nor are special smoking areas or smoking rooms permitted at the place of work.

6) The new legislation bans any form of tobacco advertising, promotion or sponsorship. Motor sport sponsorship will be allowed to continue for another three years.

7) Fines will be imposed for any non-compliance with the law: from 600 to 600,000 euros.

8) The law does not include any increase in the price of tobacco. That is the responsibility of the tax department, who say that they will be increasing taxes on tobacco.

Most of Spain is back at work today and it has been a common site to see smokers at the doors of companies having a cigarette. The Ministry for Health has also reminded companies today that they are not allowed to set up a room for smokers inside their building.

Minister of health, Elena Salgado, told the El Mundo newspaper today that now the country needed regulations against alcohol similar to those against tobacco. She said that his year the government would be looking at ways to, above all, prevent the consumption of alcohol by adolescents.

© typicallyspanish.com

A notice on the door of a restaurant informs customers that smoking is not allowed inside. Photo – EFE.

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