The draft law stipulates that smoking will also be banned on outdoor restaurant terraces, at bus stops and train stations in open areas, and in outdoor areas of health and educational facilities. Public swimming pools and sports facilities used by the community are also to become smoke-free. E-cigarettes are to be treated the same as conventional tobacco products.
Until now, selling tobacco to minors was prohibited, but consumption was not. The reform closes this loophole: minors who smoke face a fine of between 200 and 600 euros, which, if necessary, must be paid by their legal guardians. The minority government relies on support from other parties in parliament, so the final decision is still open.
Opposition comes mainly from the restaurant industry. The conservative PP party demands that the hospitality sector must not suffer any harm. Spanish Health Minister Mónica García called tobacco consumption “one of the greatest dangers to public health.”
Source: www.faz.net
