Britons considering a vacation to Spain should be aware of stringent new regulations proposed by the Spanish authorities. The government in Spain has recently passed legislation that prohibits smoking and vaping in various outdoor areas, such as beaches and bar terraces.
Previously, smoking and vaping indoors were already banned nationwide, with fines implemented in several popular tourist destinations for those violating the no-smoking rules on beaches. Despite the legality of e-cigarettes in Spain, many beaches adhere to strict no-vaping policies under local health guidelines.
Cities like Barcelona have enforced smoke- and vape-free policies on all their beaches since 2022, while certain beaches in the Balearic Islands, including Mallorca, Ibiza, and Menorca, have also been designated as smoke-free zones, encompassing e-cigarettes as well.
In regions like Tenerife, Lanzarote, and Gran Canaria, local authorities have designated key beaches as clean-air zones where vaping is prohibited, with fines ranging from €30 to €2,000 (£26 to £1,730) based on the offender’s history.
Furthermore, the Spanish government is proposing a bill to extend the smoking ban to include beaches, bar and restaurant terraces, bus stops, sports stadiums, public swimming pools, stations, playgrounds, outdoor shows, and festivals. The ban would encompass not only cigarettes but also e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches, herbal products, shisha pipes, and tobacco-heating devices.
Although the proposal has been approved but not yet enacted as law, travelers from the UK planning a trip to Spain should stay informed about the latest travel advice as the regulations are anticipated to take effect in the coming months.
This initiative follows reports from Spain’s health ministry, indicating that tobacco-related issues claim around 140 lives daily in the country, with approximately 30% of cancer cases directly linked to tobacco use-related factors. Additionally, the legislation includes a prohibition on advertising, sponsoring, or promoting tobacco-related products to discourage younger generations from smoking and vaping.
Meanwhile, a citizens’ group has urged the government to introduce measures preventing secondhand smoke from entering homes through windows and ventilation systems from adjacent properties.
For UK residents traveling to Spain, it is essential to ensure that their passports comply with post-Brexit regulations, requiring the document to have a “date of issue” within 10 years of the arrival date and remain valid for at least three months beyond the departure date from the Schengen area.