Yesterday (July 21), Spain’s Council of Ministers approved a draft tobacco control law that expands smoke-free areas, bans tobacco use among people under 18, and applies stricter rules to e-cigarettes and other nicotine products. The reform updates Spain’s 2005 tobacco law and includes bans on smoking and vaping on hospitality terraces, beaches, public pools, sports facilities, national parks, work vehicles and public event venues, while creating 15-meter protection zones around entrances to schools, hospitals, and other public buildings. The bill treats e-cigarettes, including nicotine-free devices, as well as shisha and other smoking alternatives, under the same restrictions as traditional tobacco, with tighter controls on sales, advertising and sponsorship. The legislation now moves to parliament, where further amendments could be introduced before final approval.
Tag: smoking ban
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Istanbul Ups Inspections for Indoor Smoking Ban
Istanbul authorities announced that they intensified enforcement of Türkiye’s indoor smoking ban, conducting more than 1.34 million inspections between 2022 and the first half of 2026 and issuing nearly TL 695 million ($14.7 million) in fines to 25,970 businesses found allowing smoking in enclosed public spaces. Authorities also temporarily closed 681 repeat offenders and fined 1,958 individuals, with violations and penalties increasing sharply in recent years.
The nationwide smoke-free law, which has applied to restaurants, cafés, bars, and other indoor public venues since 2009, continues to be enforced through routine inspections and public complaints, with 65 inspection teams currently operating across Istanbul.
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Moldova Aligning New Smoking Bans with EU Standards
Moldova enacted comprehensive new anti-smoking regulations effective June 24, expanding smoking and vaping restrictions as part of its effort to align tobacco-control policies with European Union standards. The legislation prohibits the use of cigarettes, heated tobacco products, e-cigarettes, and hookahs in a range of additional public spaces, including sports facilities, beaches, water parks, zoos, underground pedestrian passages, passenger boarding areas, and many common areas of residential buildings. The law also bans smoking and vaping within 10 meters of public building entrances and ventilation systems.
The new framework introduces significantly higher penalties for individuals, businesses, and property managers who fail to comply with the rules. Individuals caught smoking in prohibited areas face fines of €89 to €115 or community service, while businesses and administrators can face fines exceeding €700 equivalent and potential suspension of operations for repeated violations. The legislation also prohibits the sale of oral nicotine pouches, including synthetic nicotine variants, and imposes penalties on retailers that sell tobacco products to minors. Moldovan health officials said the measures are intended to reduce youth nicotine use and exposure to secondhand smoke while bringing national regulations closer to EU tobacco-control standards.
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Hong Kong Moves to Ban Smoking at Construction Sites
The Hong Kong SAR government introduced three legislative amendments to prohibit smoking at all construction sites following the fatal Wang Fuk Court fire in November 2025 that killed 168 people. The proposed changes would designate construction sites as no-smoking areas under the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance, empower Labor Department safety officers to issue HK$3,000 ($390) fixed penalties to offenders, and require contractors and subcontractors to take “all reasonable steps” to prevent smoking or the use of naked flames on site. Violations by contractors could carry fines of up to HK$400,000 ($52,000).
The measures, now before the Legislative Council for vetting, aim to reduce fire risks and improve worker and public safety, and would apply to all construction and maintenance sites except private residential quarters.
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Dutch Flavor Ban Backfires: Report
A report by advocacy group Prohibition Does Not Work (PDNW) claims the Netherlands’ 2024 ban on flavored vaping “backfired,” with over half of consumers reportedly shifting to illicit or cross-border sources. The report states that youth vaping rates increased from 3.7% in 2023 to 7.6% in 2024, while adult vaping declined from 3.86% to 2.3% by 2026. It also cites data indicating that 27% of users purchased products abroad, 31% used illicit online sellers, and 33% continued to access products through local retail channels despite the ban.
According to the report, cigarette consumption rose by approximately 1% in 2024, equivalent to around 60 million additional cigarettes, while 27% of former vapers reported increased smoking or initiation after the policy change. The findings also note that 42% of inspected retailers were non-compliant and that most consumers reported ease of access to flavored products. PDNW said the data reflects a shift toward unregulated channels following the restriction, with implications for enforcement and market oversight.
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UK’s Tobacco and Vapes Bill to Enter Report Stage
Members of the House of Lords will begin report-stage scrutiny of the UK’s Tobacco and Vapes Bill tomorrow (Feb. 24), marking a further phase of detailed examination and amendments. The legislation proposes a generational smoking ban that would make it illegal to sell tobacco to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009, with the legal age rising by one year annually from 2027, alongside tighter regulation of vapes and other nicotine products, including potential advertising restrictions.
Peers are suggesting amendments covering a possible increase in the sales age to 21, stricter age verification requirements, expanded powers to restrict product sales, greater transparency of tobacco sales data, and the creation of a youth vaping and waste taskforce. For retailers, particularly convenience stores, the bill could significantly alter compliance requirements, complicating age checks as different thresholds apply across tobacco, alcohol and other age-restricted categories.
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90% of Omanis Favor Tobacco Tax Hike
Oman’s Ministry of Health said that nearly 90% of its citizens support increasing taxes on tobacco products and banning smoking in open public spaces, according to findings from the 2025 National Survey on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs). Minister of Interior Sayyid Dr. Sultan Yaarub Al Busaidi said the survey showed that one in six adult males currently uses tobacco, with manufactured cigarettes, pipes and shisha being the most common forms, while about 2% use e-cigarettes or smokeless tobacco. Conducted in collaboration with the World Health Organization, the nationwide study of more than 10,000 people is expected to “guide evidence-based health policies aligned with Oman Vision 2040 and global targets to reduce premature deaths from noncommunicable diseases.”
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Hong Kong Considers Full Smoking Ban at Construction Sites
Authorities in Hong Kong are considering implementing a comprehensive smoking ban across all construction sites following last month’s tragic Tai Po fire, where at least 159 people were killed. While the official cause of the fire is still being investigated, reports say workers were seen smoking at the site of the apartment building’s renovation, near bamboo scaffolding, which authorities say fueled the rapid spread of the fire.
The blaze has heightened scrutiny over workers’ smoking during renovation projects, with reports indicating repeated violations at Wang Fuk Court. Current measures include notices warning workers against bringing cigarettes onto sites, with penalties including fines of HK$5,000 ($642), immediate removal from the site, and potential permanent barring from construction employment. The Real Estate Developers Association is gathering member feedback to potentially issue industry-wide guidelines, emphasizing contractor responsibility for enforcement.
Some developers, including CK Asset Holdings Ltd, already maintain strict no-smoking policies with designated smoking areas, intensified enforcement, and reporting to the Construction Industry Council. Under existing Hong Kong regulations, the commissioner may prohibit smoking at sites using flammable materials, providing a legal basis for broader restrictions if adopted.
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Spain Moves Toward Outdoor Smoking Ban
The Spanish government approved a draft bill that could ban smoking on bar and restaurant terraces, as well as in public spaces such as parks, playgrounds, swimming pools, bus shelters, train stations, and university campuses. The legislation, still subject to parliamentary approval, would also include e-cigarettes, heated tobacco, and hookahs, effectively covering all smoking and vaping devices.
The draft bill would also prohibit the sale of single-use e-cigarettes and restrict all tobacco advertising, including sponsorships and promotions at events, aiming to reduce tobacco’s visibility and appeal, particularly among youth. Violations could result in fines of up to €600,000, and establishments would be required to acknowledge the ban with clear displays.
The law is currently undergoing public consultation, allowing associations, companies, regional governments, and citizens to provide feedback. Following review, the bill must pass Congress and the Senate before becoming official, with final implementation expected in the coming years if approved.
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Spain Proposes Outdoor Smoking and Vape Ban
Today (September 9), Spain’s minority leftist government unveiled a bill that would ban smoking and vaping in outdoor spaces, including beaches, bar and restaurant terraces, bus stops, and stadiums, according to Reuters. Health Minister Monica García said the move puts “public health ahead of private interests,” stressing that everyone has the right to breathe clean air.
The proposal, which mirrors recent restrictions in France but goes further by including e-cigarettes, still needs parliamentary approval. The hospitality sector has criticized the plan, noting that Spain’s outdoor terraces are central to its dining culture and widely used by smokers. Smoking indoors has been banned since 2011.