New anti-smoking laws largely ignored in Valencia, Spain

September 08, 2006

Friday September 1 marks the deadline for the implementation of new Spanish regulations for businesses regarding the smoking laws introduced at the beginning of the year. However, less than 10% of business owners in the Valencia Region have attempted to make the necessary adaptations.

The new smoking laws, which came into force in Spain on January 1, dictated that any bars and restaurants with premises larger than 100 square metres must provide a totally separate area with independent ventilation. They were given eight months to carry out any work necessary to close off such an area and, meanwhile, had to provide separate areas for smokers and non-smokers.

Owners of smaller premises had to decide immediately whether to allow smoking, with certain restrictions placed on those which chose to
permit it.

Every establishment is supposed to display signs clearly explaining whether smoking is permitted and owners face a hefty fine if someone lights up in a no-smoking zone.

Many bars and restaurants which originally opted for a no-smoking environment found that business dropped off dramatically and have allowed smokers back in. Larger businesses merely set up removable screens to separate the two zones.

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