Spanish Anti-Tobacco Agency Urges Expansion of Smoke-Free Areas

According to a report by Infobae on December 5, a tobacco control organization in Spain is urging the Ministry of Health to further expand smoke-free areas, including in private vehicles when minors are present. This call comes after the European Union proposed banning smoking in outdoor spaces such as terraces and beaches.

The Secretary of the National Committee for Tobacco Prevention (CNPT), Noa Rey, said that she thinks the resolution passed by the Health Ministers of various European countries is "very positive" and "very reasonable," effectively protecting the majority of nonsmokers and aiding in the "denormalization" of smoking behavior.

The proposal passed within the framework of the EU Health Ministers' meeting aims to expand the scope of the 2009 European recommendation by designating open spaces such as playgrounds, restaurant terraces, bus stops, beaches, and swimming pools as smoke-free areas.

This recommendation covers all new tobacco products and invites member countries to "explore" smoking bans in private cars with minors and vulnerable groups present. While the recent anti-tobacco plan of the Spanish Ministry of Health did not explicitly mention smoking bans in cars, Ray stated, "This is a practical and necessary measure".

The CNPT supports regulating e-cigarettes and other emerging tobacco products because these products are developed by the tobacco industry to attract a new generation of young consumers.

The Nofumadores.org platform also encourages the Health Department led by Mónica García to be "ambitious" in reforms. Its president, Raquel González, stated, "Europe's support for smoke-free spaces is a positive sign, especially when including e-cigarette aerosols.

President of the Spanish Nursing Council (CGE) Florentino Pérez Raya has encouraged the Health Department to implement a smoking ban in vehicles, as it is an effective measure to protect the younger generation from the harmful effects of these substances.