Local News | Spain Moves to Toughen Smoking & Vaping Laws

What You Need to Know

Spain is preparing to introduce some of the strictest anti smoking and anti vaping regulations in Europe, under a draft bill approved by the government. If passed, these changes will significantly expand where smoking, vaping, and related activities are permitted with a strong focus on protecting young people and reducing health risks.

Key Measures Proposed

• Smoking and vaping would be banned indoors and in many outdoor public spaces. This includes bar and restaurant terraces, at outdoor concerts, in stadiums, at bus stops, and near schools, playgrounds, hospitals, and other public buildings.
• The new rules would bring in electronic cigarettes, shisha (hookah), and nicotine pouches under the same restrictions as traditional tobacco.
• The government is targeting flavoured disposable vapes, which are especially popular with younger users: these would be banned altogether.
• Sales of tobacco and vaping products would be limited to licensed tobacconists and regulated vending machines; smoking clubs that currently operate in some areas would be banned.

Enforcement & Penalties

• The draft law proposes fines of up to €600,000 for serious breaches, especially advertising violations.
• Smaller offences, such as smoking in prohibited areas, would also draw penalties (though less severe than the worst case fines).

Rationale & Reactions

• Spain currently sees around 50,000 smoking related deaths per year, which health authorities cite as justification for urgent reform.
• The government emphasises prevention, particularly among the young, arguing that visibility and normalisation of smoking / vaping encourage uptake.
• Public reaction is mixed: some believe the measures are long overdue, while others express concern about impacts on personal freedoms and how feasible enforcement will be, particularly in busy social spaces.

What Happens Next

• The draft bill will be debated in the Spanish Parliament. It may be amended before becoming law.
• If adopted, it will mark a major shift in Spain’s approach to tobacco control and could influence social habits, business operations (especially hospitality), and public health over the coming years.