A proposed anti-tobacco law could ban smoking on outdoor terraces at bars and restaurants, as well as in public pools, sports facilities and national parks across Spain. The Council of Ministers approved the bill on July 21, 2025, but that did not make the restrictions enforceable: the measure still needed parliamentary approval and publication in the Official State Gazette.
If enacted, the proposed rules would cover terraces at hospitality venues, collective swimming pools and outdoor sports facilities. They would also apply in national parks, at concerts and open-air theaters, in cinemas and at other public events. The package also proposed restrictions on vaping products, a ban on selling single-use electronic cigarettes, and smoke-free perimeters of 15 metres around specified public institutions.
Legislative Hurdles Ahead
Once it entered parliamentary processing, the bill remained open to debate and amendment in the Cortes Generales. It did not complete that process before Parliament was dissolved, leaving the proposal without legal force. A future government would have to reintroduce legislation for the planned restrictions to proceed; the proposed terrace and outdoor bans are not already in force.
The reform was proposed amid continuing tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke. Spain’s 2024 EDADES survey found that 25.8% of people aged 15 to 64 smoked daily. Separate reporting cited by the Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR) found that 23.8% of non-smokers reported exposure when terraces were excluded from the outdoor category. With terraces included, the reported figure rose to 54.9%. SEPAR has called for smoke-free protections to extend to terraces, including to protect customers and hospitality workers.
Expanded Smoke-Free Zones
The proposal sets out a 15-metre smoke-free perimeter around schools, hospitals and public buildings. It also names universities, social and cultural centres, museums, libraries and children’s playgrounds among the places where expanded protections were proposed. The intended effect is to reduce exposure in public areas frequented by families and young people.
The draft sought to apply many of the same restrictions to electronic cigarettes and herbal smoking products, as well as other devices that mimic tobacco use. It also proposed tighter controls on vaping and nicotine products. These remained legislative proposals, and their final scope depended on the text lawmakers might approve.
Vaping, Minors, and Tougher Penalties
Under the proposed rules described in the bill, sales of e-cigarettes and related products would be limited to specialised shops. People under 18 would be barred from purchasing or consuming them. Parents or guardians could be held financially responsible for fines incurred by minors. The draft also set fines of €200 to €600 for minor infractions.
The package proposed banning advertising, promotion and sponsorship for tobacco and related products, including online marketing and indirect promotions. It also covered signage visible from outside retail outlets. The proposal would revive the Observatory for Tobacco Prevention to monitor trends and coordinate public-health efforts. As with the proposed sanctions, these provisions depended on completion of the legislative process.
What’s Not Included Yet
The bill’s provisions on single-use vapes formed part of a broader proposed tightening of product controls; the measure also contemplated prohibiting their sale. The proposal did not require plain packaging. As with the other elements of the package, these provisions would have needed to survive parliamentary debate and appear in the final law before taking effect.
Terraces became a focus of the debate because outdoor settings can still expose customers and workers to secondhand smoke, particularly in crowded or semi-enclosed areas. Public-health advocates have used the exposure figures cited by SEPAR to argue for extending smoke-free rules beyond indoor spaces. The reform also followed earlier restrictions on smoking in enclosed public places. Minister of Health Mónica García had signalled support for extending protections to terraces and other outdoor public spaces.
Spain’s proposed measures would have affected hospitality businesses and public swimming pools, along with sports venues, cultural events, national parks and other outdoor operators. Manufacturers and retailers of nicotine products would also have faced proposed changes. The final definitions and product restrictions, including penalties, could have shifted during parliamentary debate. Because the bill did not complete the legislative process, its proposed restrictions did not replace the rules already in force.
