Britons planning their vacations to Spain should be aware of the stringent new regulations proposed by the Spanish authorities. The government in Spain has recently passed new laws that prohibit smoking and vaping in various outdoor settings, such as beaches and bar terraces.
Previously, there was a nationwide ban on smoking and vaping indoors, with fines already in place in many popular tourist destinations for individuals caught smoking on beaches. While e-cigarettes are legal in Spain, several beaches enforce strict no-vaping policies under local health guidelines.
Cities like Barcelona have already implemented smoke- and vape-free policies on all their beaches since 2022, while certain beaches in the Balearic Islands, including Mallorca, Ibiza, and Menorca, are designated as smoke-free zones, including e-cigarettes.
In regions like Tenerife, Lanzarote, and Gran Canaria, local councils have established clean-air areas on popular beaches where vaping is prohibited, with fines ranging from €30 to €2,000 (£26 to £1,730) depending on the offender’s history of violations.
The Spanish government is now considering a bill to expand the smoking ban to include beaches, bar and restaurant terraces, bus stops, sports stadiums, public swimming pools, stations, playgrounds, and outdoor events like shows and festivals. This proposed legislation would also cover a wide range of smoking products beyond cigarettes, including e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches, herbal items, shisha pipes, and tobacco heating devices.
Although the proposal has been approved, it is not yet law, and there is no definitive timeline for its implementation. Travelers from the UK planning trips to Spain should stay updated on the latest travel advisories, as these regulations are expected to be enforced in the near future.
These measures are prompted by the alarming statistics from Spain’s health ministry, reporting approximately 140 deaths per day in the country due to tobacco-related causes, with about 30% of cancer cases directly tied to tobacco use.
Additionally, the legislation aims to restrict the advertising and promotion of these tobacco and vaping products as part of a broader initiative to discourage younger generations from smoking and vaping.
Furthermore, a citizens’ association has urged the government to take steps to prevent secondhand smoke from entering homes through windows and ventilation from neighboring properties.
For UK visitors to Spain, it is essential to ensure that their passports meet the post-Brexit requirements, with the “date of issue” falling within 10 years of the arrival date and the document remaining valid for at least three months beyond the planned departure from the Schengen area.
