If you’ve ever sat at a sunlit café terrace in Barcelona or waited at a beachside bus stop in Malaga only to have drifting cigarette or vape smoke spoil the air, you’re not alone. Spain is on the verge of changing that.
In a landmark bill introduced in mid-September 2025, the Spanish government proposes to ban smoking, vaping, heated tobacco products, nicotine pouches, shisha, and similar devices in a wide range of outdoor public spaces: beaches, restaurant and bar terraces, bus stops, stadiums, playgrounds, and more. Honestly, I’ve always wondered why outdoor spaces weren’t already smoke-free. After all, we go outside for fresh air, right?
Photo via Pexels
This move, if passed by parliament, promises cleaner air, less secondhand smoke exposure, and a different vibe for outdoor Spain – with big implications for tourists and locals alike.
What exactly is in the proposed law
Here’s a breakdown of what the current draft contains and how it differs from earlier/other regulations:
- Outdoor coverage: Not only does it include terraces and beaches, but also bus stops, stadiums, playgrounds, transport hubs, and even outside schools and medical centres. Previously, many bans were limited to indoor environments or smaller outdoor zoning.
- Products included: Traditional cigarettes and all forms of vaping, plus heated tobacco products (HTPs), nicotine pouches, herbal smoking mixes, shisha, etc. Spain is treating them similarly to cigarettes under this proposal.
- Fines & enforcement: Though exact penalties are not yet finalized, violations in banned outdoor zones could lead to fines for both locals and tourists alike. Signage will likely be required.
What’s not in the bill (yet): Plain/graphic packaging for tobacco products has been notably omitted so far, despite support among health advocates. Also, other measures like price increases or strict advertising bans are debated, but may be only partially included.
Government backing & opposition: The Health Ministry strongly supports the move as aligning with public health goals and reducing smoking-related mortality (over 50,000 deaths/year). But the hospitality sector – especially small cafés, bar terraces, and businesses in tourist zones – warns it could hurt revenues and feel intrusive to visitors used to outdoor smoking culture.
Why this matters: Risks, benefits, & what studies show
I know, there is a very long debate on smoking, vaping, and allowing or banning them.
I do not smoke, and I have to say that I dislike it when at a bus stop or at a terrace, on a beach or in a park, instead of the fresh air I breathe smoke…
Secondhand smoke & exposure risk
The toxins released by tobacco smoke affect not only the person smoking but also anyone nearby who inhales the secondhand fumes.
Vaping among young people
Surveys show that vaping has become normalized among adolescents. A recent survey (Spain, age 14–18) found ~19% smoking, and ~11% using e-cigarettes. Many of those using vapes believe them to be ‘safe’ or less harmful, though studies (e.g. from SEMFyC / Hospital Clínic in Barcelona) show they still carry risk of lung irritation, exposure to toxins, and potential gateway effects. (another study about e-cigarettes in Barcelona, here)
E-cigarettes are not risk-free – read this to learn more.
Comparisons:
Japan’s model: In Japan, a revised Health Promotion Act (2020) banned indoor smoking in many public places, and local laws designate outdoor smoking zones. However, compliance is mixed; many small establishments (especially bars) were exempt or delayed enforcement, and some “regulated” places still allow smoking in separate or “smoking rooms.” A 2024 Japanese study reported that after the law, “no smoking” status improved but many establishments required by law still did not fully comply. (more about the topic here and here)
What this means for travellers
If the law passes, when you next visit Spain:
Be prepared to expect smoke-free terraces. That cappuccino or vino on the terrace might no longer come with cigarette smoke drifting from your neighbor.
Check signs in outdoor areas. Smokers/vapers may only be allowed in designated spots or “smoking corners” (if provided).
Behaviour adjustments: If you smoke or vape, you’ll need to seek out allowed zones; those who don’t may face fines. Also, lighter etiquette will matter more – stepping away from crowds, disposing of cigarette waste properly.
Change in atmosphere: For non-smokers, more fresh air, less smell. For smokers, a shift in how public outside time is experienced. It may feel restrictive at first, but healthier in the long run.
ID 179054080 ©Dinogeromella | Dreamstime.com
Solutions & best practices – What other places do
To bring fresh angles, here are comparisons & possible solutions travellers or cities have adopted:
Japan’s designated smoking areas & rooms: In Tokyo (and many wards), while indoor smoking is tightly controlled, there are official “smoking rooms” inside certain venues. Outdoors, some wards have banned smoking in busy streets, but provide small outdoor “smoking islands” or zones. This balance gives smokers an option without forcing exposure on everyone. (more about smoking in Japan here)
Street-level or park smoking bans: Some Japanese municipalities ban smoking while walking in busy streets (so smokers must stop to smoke), or ban smoking in parks/schools.
Australia & New Zealand: Many cities enforce bans on smoking on beaches, playgrounds, and near public buildings, often with designated zones or distance rules (e.g. a certain number of meters from entrances).
Signage, clear zoned-areas & community engagement: In many successful cases, laws are paired with clear signage, public education (reminding people), and gradual enforcement rather than sudden heavy fines. That helps reduce backlash.
Personal reflection & experience
I always get frustrated when, in what should be a fresh-air moment – a terrace dinner, a stroll through a park, or relaxing on the beach – I end up breathing in drifting smoke from cigarettes or vapes.
And what’s more annoying is that many places still don’t treat vapes with the same gravity, despite their rising popularity and health concerns.
It feels like outdoor public places should be a refuge for fresh air, especially when you travel, not compromised by someone else’s cigarette break.
Challenges & what could go wrong
No law is perfect. A few potential pitfalls:
Enforcement: It’s one thing to pass a law; another to make sure people obey. Spain’s many autonomous regions may interpret enforcement differently.
Business push-back: In tourist areas, terraces are central to café life; restaurants fear losing customers or needing to redesign space.
Grey areas: What counts as “outdoor public space”? Bus stops under cover, mixed indoor/outdoor terraces, or areas that are partially enclosed might lead to confusion.
Compliance for tourists: Visitors might not know local rules, or signage might be unclear or multilingual.
Conclusion
ID 372047007 ©Jerome Cid | Dreamstime.com
Spain’s proposed ban on outdoor smoking and vaping in public spaces is more than a regulatory change – it’s a cultural shift, especially in a country where much of life, and tourism, happens outdoors.
For travellers, it means adapting expectations: no more casual smoking at your beach towel or café table. But for non-smokers, fresh air lovers, families, and anybody who wants to breathe easier on holiday, it’s a win.
If passed, the law could position Spain among the leading European nations pushing for clean air, health protection, and a more considerate travel experience, where the breeze brings the scent of sea, not smoke.
References & Further Reading
“Spain plans smoking ban at bar terraces, beaches, stadiums” – Reuters, 9 Sept 2025. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/spain-plans-smoking-ban-bar-terraces-beaches-stadiums-2025-09-09/
“Spain government moves to ban smoking on bar terraces, parks” – The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/09/spanish-government-moves-ban-smoking-bar-terraces
