Smokers Ordered to Keep Their Distance

The Italian city of Turin has banned outdoor smoking and vaping unless other people are a least five meters away, reports Reuters.

The ban covers cigarettes, cigars, pipes, heated tobacco products and vapes, according to a resolution approved by the city council on April 15.

In 2021, Milan prohibited it at bus stops, taxi ranks, stadiums, parks and cemeteries.

However, the anti-smoking laws tend not to be enforced strictly. In Milan, only seven fines were issued in the first four months of their application, according to Corriere della Sera.

Vaping consumer advocates derided Turin’s decision to equate vaping with smoking.

“There is no scientific basis for ‘passive vaping,’ making an outdoor vaping ban for public health reasons completely illogical,” said Michael Landl, director of the World Vapers’ Alliance, in a statement.

“Equating vaping with smoking only perpetuates the false perception that they carry similar risks, discouraging smokers from switching to a less harmful alternative. Furthermore, how would such a 5-metre rule even be enforced? This is nothing more than a poorly conceived publicity stunt by the council, one that could have serious negative consequences.”