Spain is poised to enact one of Europe’s strictest anti-smoking laws within the next few months.
A sweeping draft approved by the Council of Ministers tightens restrictions on smoking and vaping in both indoor and outdoor spaces.
It treats e-cigarettes, heated tobacco, nicotine pouches, and shisha just like traditional cigarettes, and introduces new restrictions for minors.
Under the new legislation, the following areas would become smoke and vape free:
- Bar and restaurant terraces – including those outdoors currently popular for post-meal relaxation.
- Beaches – expanding beyond already restricted areas like Alicante, Barcelona, Valencia, and the Balearic Islands to a nationwide ban
- Bus stops, transport hubs, and outdoor waiting areas
- Stadiums, parks, university campuses, sports centres, cultural venues, playgrounds, concert and festival grounds
- Within 15 metres of hospitals, schools, sports and cultural facilities, and playgrounds – establishing a protective buffer around vulnerable spaces
- Swimming pools and similar public facilities
Additional provisions in the draft law
- Minors are expressly prohibited from using e-cigarettes or related products.
- Single-use disposable vapes will be banned outright.
- Advertising, sponsorship, and promotion of tobacco and tobacco-adjacent products, including vapes, will be prohibited.
- The law introduces a new Observatory for Tobacco Prevention and aims to bolster smoking-cessation and prevention programs via Spain’s primary healthcare system.
What’s already restricted today?
Even before the new law enters force, several restrictions are already in place.
Indoor smoking and vaping have been banned since 2011, covering spaces like restaurants, bars, offices, public transport, and hotels (though some may offer designated smoking rooms).
Outdoor bans exist in certain areas – most notably beaches in the Balearic Islands, Barcelona, Alicante, and Valencia, as well as some terraces and designated public areas.
Fines for smoking or vaping in these zones can reach €2,000, depending on location and local enforcement.
