June 22nd Marks 'D-Day' for smokers in Spain

Inspite of numerous protest from Bar and Restaurant owners, the Government is intent on moving forward with its plans to ban smoking in public areas.

The proposed day of implementation is June 22 2010 – a date chosen by the Ministry for Health for all smoking in closed public areas to cease.

The Government also proposes to remove all smokers zones that were established under the current legislation, and will also add a photographic campaign, to warn of smoking related health issues, onto cigarette packets from November.

On June 22 the cabinet is due to meet with the Inter-regional council to put forward it’s proposals to the Chiefs of the Regional Health Services.

The new legislation will effectively ban smoking in all bars, restaurants, hotels, discothèques, established areas in airports and other transport stations. The main change to existing legislation is the removal of the option of small bars to chose whether to be smoking or not, and the establishment of areas for smokers in larger bars and restaurants.