Spain Approves New Smoking Ban Plan with Increased Taxes

According to the Eurasia Review, Spain has approved a new smoking ban plan that will see more places banning smoking in the future. The plan also includes a significant increase in tobacco taxes and implementing deterrent measures for e-cigarette users similar to those for traditional smokers.

On the 5th of this month, the Spanish Ministry of Health approved the document, which will be included in a new legislative package awaiting formal approval by Congress.

Starting today, April 5th (Friday), this plan has become a reality, which is a proud achievement for our country," said Health Minister Monica Garcia, a member of the left-wing Sumar platform, which is a partner of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's coalition government.

This document is an update to the existing 14-year plan aimed at reducing the number of smokers, protecting public health, and preventing the emergence of new tobacco consumers.

The 2024-2027 Tobacco Control and Prevention Plan has five main goals: 

• Preventing the initiation of smoking;
• Encouraging smokers to quit and providing cessation support;
• Reducing tobacco emissions in public and private spaces and environmental exposure to related products;
• Promoting applied research and monitoring of tobacco control;
• Fostering coordination and establishment of anti-tobacco alliances.

It is still uncertain whether smoking will be banned on the terraces of bars and restaurants in the future; the leisure and tourism industry accounts for 13% of Spain's national GDP.

The plan includes legislating expanded smoke-free areas and designated e-cigarette vaping areas in certain communities and outdoor public spaces, but smoking bans have not yet been enforced in these public places, with only a "recommendation" to refrain from smoking in these areas.

The tobacco tax is expected to increase. Since 2005, the tobacco tax has already increased by 122%.

The program also includes implementing generic or neutral packaging for tobacco products - unattractive colors, using the Arial font and smaller font size for the brand name, in order to accommodate larger health warnings on the packaging, such as "Smoking is harmful to your health".

The new plan will also prohibit the addition of "ingredients for adding flavor to tobacco and related products (in line with the European Union).