Overview

• The draft law would ban smoking in outdoor areas including university campuses, open-air discotheques, sports venues, bus shelters and work vehicles such as delivery vans.
• Health ministry officials expect to present the draft to the Council of Ministers within weeks, with parliamentary debate in the Congress of Deputies to follow before enactment.
• Tobacco caused over 63,000 preventable deaths in Spain last year, and health authorities note that most smokers begin around age 14, driving the push to close loopholes in youth-frequented spaces.
• Public support is high, with nearly 80% of Valencians surveyed favoring new smoke-free zones, reflecting concern over second-hand smoke and youth vaping.
• The initiative aligns Spain with broader European measures, mirroring France’s ban on smoking in beaches, parks and around schools effective July 1, 2025.