Britons planning a trip to Spain should be aware of new stringent regulations proposed by the Spanish authorities. The government has recently passed legislation that prohibits smoking and vaping in various outdoor areas, such as beaches and bar terraces.
While smoking and vaping indoors have already been banned nationwide, several popular tourist destinations in Spain have implemented fines for individuals caught smoking on beaches. E-cigarettes are legally allowed in Spain, but many beaches enforce strict no-vaping policies under local public health guidelines.
Cities like Barcelona have designated all their beaches as smoke-free zones since 2022, and certain beaches in the Balearic Islands, including Mallorca, Ibiza, and Menorca, are also marked as no-smoking areas, which includes e-cigarettes.
In regions like Tenerife, Lanzarote, and Gran Canaria, local councils have declared specific beaches as clean-air zones where vaping is prohibited, with fines ranging from €30 to €2,000 depending on the offender’s history.
The Spanish government is now pushing for even stricter measures by introducing a bill to ban smoking on beaches, bar and restaurant terraces, bus stops, sports stadiums, public swimming pools, stations, playgrounds, and at events like outdoor shows and festivals. The ban would not only cover cigarettes but also e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches, herbal products, shisha pipes, and tobacco-heating devices.
Although the proposal has been approved, it has not yet become law, and the implementation date remains uncertain. Travelers from the UK heading to Spain are advised to stay updated on the latest travel advisories as the new rules are anticipated to take effect in the near future.
The initiative follows reports from Spain’s health ministry, revealing that tobacco-related factors claim the lives of approximately 140 individuals daily in the country, with 30% of cancer cases directly linked to tobacco use.
Additionally, the legislation includes restrictions on advertising, sponsoring, or promoting such products to discourage younger generations from smoking and vaping. A citizens’ association has also urged the government to protect against secondhand smoke infiltration into homes through windows and ventilation from neighboring properties.
Travelers to Spain should also ensure their passports meet the post-Brexit requirements. UK passport holders must possess passports issued within the last ten years and valid for at least three months beyond their planned departure from the Schengen area.
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