Many may have been pleased to hear that smoking is set to be banned in the majority of public spaces in Spain.
The new law will outlaw the bad habit on bar and restaurant terraces, at swimming pools, bus shelters, university campuses, and within 15 metres of schools, hospitals, cultural venues, sports centres and playgrounds.
Under the reform, electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco products, herbal vaping items and nicotine pouches will be regulated in the same way as traditional cigarettes – and single-use vaping devices will be banned outright.
For those who hate smoke wafting over their dinners while eating outside, it all sounds great – but don’t get your hopes up.
I fear this will be yet another ‘crackdown’ that fails to punish would-be rule breakers.
Just this week, for example, I saw multiple people on e-scooters mounting pavements and sidewalks in Marbella – while many have been filmed putting their lives at risk on the A-7 motorway, all of which goes against recent laws issued by the DGT.
Meanwhile, how many tourists have you seen walking around topless in Malaga province this year?
Despite the many signs warning them against it and the threat of a fine, nothing is ever done to curtail their illegal behaviour.
I have seen shirtless men walk straight past police patrols who don’t even bat an eyelid.
And then there was the sweeping new laws on animal rights, which came into force this year.
It states, for example, that it is no longer legal to leave your dog tied up outside a restaurant, bar or any shop while you go inside – yet I see it happening every day.
So while I’m all for Spain improving public health by banning smoking, they might want to make sure the local authorities get the memo.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
