Spain advances draft ban on smoking and vaping in outdoor public spaces

Spain's minority left-wing government approved a draft law on Tuesday that would ban smoking and vaping in outdoor spaces including bar terraces, parks and beaches.

The draft law would also ban minors from consuming tobacco and would block the advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products. The proposal still needs approval from parliament, where the government does not have a majority.

Health Minister Monica Garcia said the aim was to expand restrictions beyond Spain's indoor smoking ban, introduced in 2010, to better protect public health and move towards a tobacco-free generation. She told a news conference after the cabinet approved the draft that the goal was to make clean air normal in shared spaces.

Garcia said pregnant women and people with asthma should be able to use restaurant terraces without being exposed to smoke from nearby tables.

The measure is likely to face strong opposition from the hospitality sector in Spain, where outdoor dining is popular during very hot summers.

Health authority data from 2024 shows that about 26 percent of Spain's adult population smokes daily. Garcia said smoking causes about 50,000 deaths a year in Spain and is a risk factor in about 30 percent of cancers.