Spain gets tough on smoking
Source: Agencies |
January 3, 2011, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE tapas bar - that smoky, noisy and bustling Spanish success story that combines delicious morsels with good wine within a welcoming atmosphere and has spawned imitators across the world - is now smoke-free. So are other restaurants, nightclubs, casinos, airports and some outdoor spaces.
Spain yesterday introduced an anti-smoking law that is likely to turn the country - the EU's fourth largest tobacco producer - from a cigarette-friendly land abounding with smoky bars and restaurants, into one of Europe's most stringently smokeless.
The law prohibits lighting up in enclosed public places, although hotels are allowed to reserve 30 percent of rooms for smokers. Outside, smoking is banned in children's playgrounds and near schools and hospitals.
"It's a step that should have been taken four years ago, but I think the government got cold feet," said bakery worker Inma Amantes Ramos, 29.
Parliament approved an anti-smoking law in 2006 that prohibited smoking in the workplace but allowed bar and restaurant owners with premises under 100 square meters to decide whether to allow smoking or not. Most chose to permit smoking.
Larger restaurants were allowed to build sealed smoking sections, but now those can no longer be used.
Spain yesterday introduced an anti-smoking law that is likely to turn the country - the EU's fourth largest tobacco producer - from a cigarette-friendly land abounding with smoky bars and restaurants, into one of Europe's most stringently smokeless.
The law prohibits lighting up in enclosed public places, although hotels are allowed to reserve 30 percent of rooms for smokers. Outside, smoking is banned in children's playgrounds and near schools and hospitals.
"It's a step that should have been taken four years ago, but I think the government got cold feet," said bakery worker Inma Amantes Ramos, 29.
Parliament approved an anti-smoking law in 2006 that prohibited smoking in the workplace but allowed bar and restaurant owners with premises under 100 square meters to decide whether to allow smoking or not. Most chose to permit smoking.
Larger restaurants were allowed to build sealed smoking sections, but now those can no longer be used.
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