Spain, a nation long renowned for its sun-soaked beaches, vibrant outdoor terraces, and relaxed approach to tobacco, is on the cusp of a dramatic shift in public health policy. On September 9, 2025, the Spanish government approved a draft law that would ban smoking and vaping in a wide array of outdoor venues, including beaches, bar and restaurant terraces, sports stadiums, playgrounds, bus stops, and even university campuses. The proposed legislation, which still requires parliamentary approval and may be amended, is part of a broader European movement to curb tobacco use and its associated health risks—though it’s already stirring heated debate among citizens, business owners, and tourists alike.
The new law, if enacted, would be one of the continent’s most sweeping outdoor smoking bans. It covers not just conventional cigarettes but also electronic cigarettes, shisha pipes, heated tobacco devices, herbal products, and nicotine pouches. The intention, according to Spain’s health minister Monica Garcia, is clear: “We’ll always put public health ahead of private interests. Everyone has a right to breathe clean air and live longer and better lives.” As she explained to reporters, the government is determined to “put Spain back at the forefront of the fight against tobacco.”
Spain’s cabinet signed off on the draft bill on September 9, marking the latest step in a gradual tightening of tobacco regulations. Smoking inside bars and restaurants has been illegal since 2010, and some beaches and municipalities—such as L'Albir Beach in Alicante, Benidorm’s Levante and Poniente beaches, and stretches along the Balearic Islands—have already enacted local bans. But this national legislation would standardize restrictions across the country, extending them to nearly every outdoor public space where people gather.
The health rationale behind the move is stark. According to Spain’s health ministry, more than 50,000 people die every year from smoking-related causes—about 140 deaths per day. “I also want to stress that 30% of cancer tumours are linked to the factors that come from tobacco use,” Garcia noted, underlining the urgency of action. The Global Action to End Smoking report found that 24.9% of Spaniards used tobacco in some form in 2022, with higher rates among men (27.5%). For comparison, only about 11% of Brits smoke, according to recent UK data.
But the law isn’t just about cigarettes. It would, for the first time, regulate vapes, tobacco-heating devices, and nicotine pouches with equal force. Minors would be prohibited from using these products, and the sale of single-use electronic cigarettes—already a target of environmental and youth health campaigns in the UK—would end. The bill also promises tighter controls on marketing and product distribution, aiming to stifle the growing popularity of vaping among young people. NHS research from the UK found that nearly 10% of children aged 11 to 15 vape frequently, a trend mirrored in Spain and elsewhere in Europe.
The proposed restrictions have not landed quietly. Spanish pubs and restaurants, whose outdoor terraces are iconic parts of the country’s lifestyle (and a major draw for tourists), have voiced strong opposition. “It is unfortunate news for bars and restaurants that will now face a ban on customers who will stop going to consume on the terraces,” one social media user lamented, echoing the concerns of many in the hospitality sector. Another added, “Banning vaping has no other purpose than wanting to stop other people’s enjoyment. There are no passive effects and they even smell nice. I neither smoke nor vape.”
Some smokers themselves have expressed understanding for the move, or at least a willingness to adapt. “I am a smoker and I always try to avoid bothering others as much as possible with my smoking,” said one commenter. “In fact, on terraces, I usually get up and go out to the street, so I think it’s fine. Smoking is my problem, not anyone else’s.” Others, however, have threatened to take their business—and their holiday plans—elsewhere. “Won’t be going to Spain then. I’ll go somewhere else,” one British tourist declared, while another quipped, “They won’t get my money anymore, Portugal here we come.”
The hospitality industry’s anxiety is not unfounded. Spain’s tourism sector has already been rattled by a wave of anti-tourism protests in popular destinations like Mallorca, where demonstrators wielded “go home” placards and called for limits on mass tourism. According to the Association of Temporary Services Concessions and Operations in the Maritime-Terrestrial Public Domain of Mallorca (ADOPUMA), tourism-related businesses saw a 20% drop in custom in July 2025 compared to the previous year. Many in the industry blame “irresponsible messages against tourism” for the downturn and are urging the government to help reverse the trend.
Spain’s approach closely mirrors recent moves by France, which in July 2025 banned smoking in outdoor spaces such as beaches, parks, public gardens, outside schools, bus stops, and sports venues. However, France’s law notably exempts cafe and bar terraces and electronic cigarettes—an exception that has not been proposed in Spain’s draft. In France, violators can face fines of £114. Spain’s law, while similar in spirit, is even broader in scope.
Despite the tough stance, the Spanish proposal does not include every possible tobacco control measure. Notably absent are requirements for plain packaging on tobacco products, a step already taken by 25 nations, including the UK, according to the World Health Organisation. Nor does the bill propose hiking tobacco prices, which remain relatively low in Spain—a pack of 20 cigarettes costs less than €6 (£5.20), making the country a magnet for smokers from pricier northern European nations.
The timeline for the law’s implementation remains uncertain. The draft bill must still pass through parliament, where amendments are possible, and no specific date for enforcement has been set. The government, however, has made clear that the public health imperative outweighs other considerations. “We know that the reality has changed when it comes to tobacco and that there are new devices, such as vapes and tobacco-heating devices and nicotine pouches – and this law, for the first time, will regulate all these tobacco-related products, and it will regulate them in a clear and forceful way based on the scientific evidence,” Garcia said.
Meanwhile, the debate over the balance between public health, personal freedom, and economic vitality will likely continue. As Spain weighs its next steps, the outcome could set a new standard not just for the country, but for the entire European Union’s approach to tobacco and vaping in public life.