Public Smoking All Set To Be Banned In Spain

October 21st, 2010 - 5:53 pm ICT by Pen Men At Work  

October 21, 2010 (Pen Men at Work): most of the countries of The European Union have been very strict about their stance on public smoking. However things are a bit complicated in Spain until now. On December 26, 2005 a law was passed by the Spanish government that severely restricted public smoking in the country. The law was all set to come into effect from January 1, 2006, but somehow it was not implemented with an iron fist.

With the new anti-smoking bill Spain is all set to join the club of other European countries that have abolished smoking in public spaces completely. The new law specifically states that no one is allowed to smoke in confined public spaces.

The Spanish parliament unanimously ruled in favor of the anti-smoking ban on Wednesday. The new law will come in effect very soon and it will abolish smoking in enclosed public spaces completely. Only prisons and psychiatric institutes will have separate rooms for smokers and non smokers. Public outdoor places like parks, playgrounds, railway stations and airports will fall under this anti-smoking ban as well. Spanish Health Minister Trinidad Jimenez was instrumental in passing this much awaited smoking ban.

Scientists believe that passive smoking is one of the primary causes behind lung and throat cancer. The smoke from tobacco products (especially cigarettes) contain tar, nicotine and other harmful substances which is extremely harmful for the bystanders as well. The Ministry of Health has confirmed that smoking will be allowed in open public spaces like terraces of bars and restaurants. The only exception to the open air rule happens to be the children’s parks. The new law might cut down the number of lung cancer cases in Spain.

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