Spain's minority left-wing government has approved a draft law banning smoking and vaping in a wide range of outdoor spaces, including bar terraces, beaches and parks, moving to tighten some of Europe's most permissive tobacco rules.
The Council of Ministers backed the reform on Tuesday, extending existing smoke-free zones and also prohibiting tobacco consumption, sales and supply to under-18s, alongside a ban on advertising and promotion of tobacco products. Health Minister Mónica García said the measures aim to improve public health and steer Spain toward a tobacco-free generation. Smoking causes around 50,000 deaths a year in Spain, where about 26% of adults smoke daily, according to 2024 health authority data.
The bill now enters parliament, where the government lacks a majority and must secure approval to enact the restrictions.