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Tag: smoking ban

  • UK’s Tobacco and Vapes Bill to Enter Report Stage

    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.

  • 90% of Omanis Favor Tobacco Tax Hike

    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.”

  • Hong Kong Considers Full Smoking Ban at Construction Sites

    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.

  • Spain Moves Toward Outdoor Smoking Ban

    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.

  • Spain Proposes Outdoor Smoking and Vape Ban

    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.

  • Milan Bans Outdoor Smoking

    Milan Bans Outdoor Smoking

    Milan has banned smoking in outdoor and public areas, effective Jan. 1, 2025, reports Euro News.

    The ban includes “all public spaces, including streets” but provides an exception for isolated spaces as long as smokers maintain a distance of at least 10 meters from other people. Those caught violating the ban face fines ranging from €40 to €240.

    The ban aims to improve the city’s air quality and protect the health of citizens from secondhand smoke. Milan is one of Europe’s most polluted cities in terms of air quality.  

    The new law does not apply to electronic cigarettes, however.

  • Geneva to Ban Smoking in Some Outdoor Areas

    Geneva to Ban Smoking in Some Outdoor Areas

    Image: Tobacco Reporter archive

    Smoking will be banned in some outdoor public locations in Geneva beginning June 1, reports SWI. Bus stops, playgrounds and outside of schools are included in the ban.

    The government has modified the law to create “healthy outdoor environments that are smoke-free.” 

    Under the law, smoking will be banned within a 9 meter perimeter of playgrounds, schools and day care centers, and smoking zones will be created at least 9 meters from outdoor swimming pools. Smoking will be completely banned at local bus stops.  

    Geneva Parliament agreed to the change in January 2022. Those caught breaking the law will be subject to a fine.  

    Since May 1, 2010, smoking has been banned in Switzerland in enclosed spaces when they are open to the public or serve as a workplace for more than one person. Smoking is banned in restaurants, public buildings and offices as well as on public transport. Smoking is permitted in separate smoking rooms, outdoors and in private homes.  

    Home to the global headquarters of Philip Morris International and Japan Tobacco International, Switzerland has historically lagged behind its neighbors in anti-smoking legislation, but that is starting to change.

    In 2022, Swiss voters approved a referendum limiting tobacco and e-cigarette advertising.

  • Smokers on Miami Beach Could Face Jail

    Smokers on Miami Beach Could Face Jail

    Credit: Marina_Larina

    Cigarette smokers in Miami Beach could face up to 60 days in jail if caught repeatedly smoking on the city’s beaches and public parks. The new law went into effect on Jan. 1.

    Vaping products, cigars and unfiltered cigarettes are still permitted.

    Police officers will be issuing $100 civil fines to first offenders and $200 fines to second offenders within a 12-month period.

    Police officers will be able to arrest repeat offenders at their discretion. The maximum punishment is a $500 fine and 60 days in jail, according to Local10News.

    Governor Ron DeSantis made the ban possible when he signed a law in June that allowed local officials to regulate cigarette smoking at public beaches and parks.

    The only Miami Beach commissioner who voted against the measure was Ricky Arriola, who said it will distract police officers from public safety.

    “We shouldn’t be enforcing a law like this,” Arriola said.

  • Belgium Bans Smoking at Train Stations

    Belgium Bans Smoking at Train Stations

    Image: Алексей Горелов | Adobe Stock

    Belgium has banned smoking and vaping at train stations, both indoor and outdoor, effective Jan. 1, 2023, according to The Brussels Times.

    The ban will apply to all 550 stations in Belgium, and those caught in violation will be fined. Ashtrays will be removed from platforms, and prohibition signs at visible places will indicate the ban.

    “Our children have the right to grow up in good health, including without exposure to tobacco. As children see fewer and fewer people smoking, the absence of tobacco is becoming the new norm for them,” said Marc Michils, Generation Smoke-Free spokesperson. “Generation Smoke-Free welcomes this measure that brings us closer to the first generation without tobacco.”

    “There are 14,000 victims of tobacco every year in Belgium—that should spur us into action,” said Federal Mobility Minister Georges Gilkinet. The ban will “ensure healthier air on the platforms and, above all, reduce the pressure for young people who have quit or want to quit smoking.”

  • Austria to Expand Smoking Ban

    Austria to Expand Smoking Ban

    Image: horst jürgen schunk | Adobe Stock

    The Austrian government plans to expand the country’s smoking ban to include “additional outdoor public places” in 2023, according to The Local.

    The new amendment to the Tobacco and Nonsmoker Protection Act would add public places, such as “children’s playgrounds and recreational areas for children and young people,” to the list of banned smoking areas. The amendment would also regulate nicotine pouches, which have become increasingly popular among young people.

    A ban on indoor smoking, including in bars and restaurants, was implemented in 2019.

    The new amendment will be reviewed at the beginning of 2023.