Spain's strict new anti-smoking rules take effect

[cunny]

A tough anti-smoking law has taken effect in Spain.

The ban - one of the strictest in Europe - outlaws smoking in all bars and restaurants. Smokers will also be prohibited on television broadcasts, near hospitals or in school playgrounds.

The law tightens anti-smoking restrictions introduced in 2006.

Spain has a strong cafe culture and the owners of bars and cafes have complained the law will hurt business.

BBC News - Spain's strict new anti-smoking rules take effect

[Wolfpack]

It's fine they want to ban smoking but they should let bars and restaurants choose to be smoking or non smoking

[Canker_Canison]

If my memory is correct, currently running 50/50, Spain is in really deep do-do... much like Ireland.

They are staring bankrupcy or huge bailout right in the face. I would of thought this ban would be the last thing they wanted. It's really gonna kick the food & entertainment industry right in the nuts.

[violator80]

Many states here is the USA have already done the same. Im from Illinois, this state has placed an insanely high tax on tobacco (currently around $5.00 per pack) and banned all smoking in any business establishment. Heavy fines are imposed for even a first time offense for simply smoking within 15 feet of a door or window of any business. Employers are not allowed to set up any designated smoking areas & no smoking anywhere on property of healthcare facilities. There is still no federal mandate, but that don't stop the states from getting communist with it.

[Grizz]

in Ireland the smoking ban is designed to protect workers. i am the only person that works in my business and i can be prosecuted for smoking there. stoopid law. they can take me to court, i'd like to see them explain to a judge how it is in my interest to go outside to smoke to protect myself from second hand smoke.

[mtv1]

in Ireland the smoking ban is designed to protect workers. i am the only person that works in my business and i can be prosecuted for smoking there. stoopid law. they can take me to court, i'd like to see them explain to a judge how it is in my interest to go outside to smoke to protect myself from second hand smoke.

I have been a rep for 20+ years and i smoke so if i enter a residence while selling and the peeps that own the house smoke are they breaking the law , it really ~~~~ed the Hotel and local bar structure in Ireland , people opting to drink at home , although the bars know how to charge for a pint too , in the whole its a good thing maybe we will look back in 50 years time and say what good foresight they had ??

[cablefreejunkie]

i stopped smoking when you could smoke in a pub,and started and stopped again when you couldnt,in my opinion you shouldnt subject someone else to secondhand smoke,,i cant believe that we actually were allowed to do it in the first place,,i dont think it matters how much tax is imposed you will still smoke,,either buying non duty paid cheap smokes or using roll ups as a cheaper alternative,,its the most addictive substance legally available and in my opinion quite a hard one to quit,,thankfully this time round i have managed to stay off it even whilst on the hit and miss,,,,,i also think in the uk it hasnt hit the pub trade too much at all,,,,theres another social smoking scene going on outside the pub

[tshirtman]

I was working in secure psychiatric units when the ban came in here, and there was talk of making them exempt from the ban (same as prisons), in the end they did ban smoking inside the hospitals, and the number of assaults against staff went up by 60%, a cigarette was the best de-escalation technique we had, I would love to see these rule makers tell an acute mentally ill patient they will have to wait an hour before there next cig, and then watch them run as the patient kicks off.

[smirnoff_rules]

i stopped smoking when you could smoke in a pub,and started and stopped again when you couldnt,in my opinion you shouldnt subject someone else to secondhand smoke,,i cant believe that we actually were allowed to do it in the first place,,i dont think it matters how much tax is imposed you will still smoke,,either buying non duty paid cheap smokes or using roll ups as a cheaper alternative,,its the most addictive substance legally available and in my opinion quite a hard one to quit,,thankfully this time round i have managed to stay off it even whilst on the hit and miss,,,,,i also think in the uk it hasnt hit the pub trade too much at all,,,,theres another social smoking scene going on outside the pub

a m8 of mine asks for fags off me to chat birds up .. is never smoked one yet but pulls outside

[Grizz]

around the time it was coming in, i remember an interview on the radio about an experiment with a nonsmoking bar in Dublin. dude said it emptied his pub.
i can see how its a good thing but if smoking is so bad, ban it completely. the government does'nt give a sh1t about a few barworkers, they were using health and safetly legislation to try and cut down on smoking in the public in general. if they were serious they would outlaw it completely. its just as dangerous a drug as heroin or drink.

i wonder what are the stats for barstaff being injured by drunken customers, i'll bet its more than for smoking. will they ban alcohol in pubs to protect the staff?

[flyingpig]

I am a non smoker - never ever smoked and I can now go out and when I come home not smell of cigarette smoke - which is awful. So I am happy.

However, I do feel that smokers, who lets face it, are unfrotunately addicted to one of the most addictive and freely available products ever and as it is then unfair to make them seem like second rate citizens.

[ruudvandan]

around the time it was coming in, i remember an interview on the radio about an experiment with a nonsmoking bar in Dublin. dude said it emptied his pub.
i can see how its a good thing but if smoking is so bad, ban it completely. the government does'nt give a sh1t about a few barworkers, they were using health and safetly legislation to try and cut down on smoking in the public in general. if they were serious they would outlaw it completely. its just as dangerous a drug as heroin or drink.

i wonder what are the stats for barstaff being injured by drunken customers, i'll bet its more than for smoking. will they ban alcohol in pubs to protect the staff?

If tobacco and alcohol were discovered as drugs now then I am pretty certain that they would be banned. They are addictive and dangerous but they are so ingrained in our culture now that it would be impossible to ban them. The Americans tried to and failed.

My thoughts on the Spanish ban are that the Spanish will take about as much notice of this law as they do of the rest.

[Grizz]

If tobacco and alcohol were discovered as drugs now then I am pretty certain that they would be banned. They are addictive and dangerous but they are so ingrained in our culture now that it would be impossible to ban them. The Americans tried to and failed.

My thoughts on the Spanish ban are that the Spanish will take about as much notice of this law as they do of the rest.

true m8. To be honest, every bar i drink in i dont even have to go outside, we smoke in a corridor or a back room, or closing time at the counter so its not as if we do take a whole lot of notice. i just take exception to being criminalised by my nanny state while they are making money from my addiction. But i guess thats politics for ya,

[popi110]

Spain had a good system though not enforsed in tourist hot spots the displayed a sign in the bar window if smoking as permited or not if it was permitted then minors were not allowed in .the airports trains and other public places had stopped allowing smoking that seamed the sensible way but again big brother has steped in