The smoking ban in Spain will be extended further if the reform approved by the Council of Ministers becomes law. The Spanish Government has given the green light to a bill that would expand smoke-free areas to include bar and restaurant terraces, beaches, communal swimming pools, sports facilities, national parks and outdoor events, while also bringing restrictions on electronic cigarettes into line with those applying to conventional tobacco.
The bill, which will now begin its parliamentary passage through the Spanish Parliament, amends Law 28/2005 to adapt it to new consumption habits and strengthen public health protection, particularly among children and young people. The new restrictions are not yet in force.
Spain’s smoking ban will extend to more outdoor spaces
The main change introduced by the reform is the inclusion of places where smoking is still permitted, particularly shared outdoor spaces. If the bill completes its parliamentary passage, smoking will be prohibited in:
- Terraces at bars, restaurants and other food and drink establishments.
- Coastal and riverside beaches.
- Communal swimming pools.
- Sports facilities.
- National parks.
- Work vehicles, except when used exclusively for personal purposes.
- Concerts, theatres, cinemas and other public events, including those held outdoors.
- Within a radius of less than 15 metres from the entrances to public buildings, healthcare centres, schools, universities, museums, libraries, cultural centres, sports facilities and children’s playgrounds.
Vaping will be subject to the same restrictions as smoking
Another of the main changes is that electronic cigarettes, whether or not they contain nicotine, will be subject to the same restrictions on use as conventional tobacco in all areas where smoking is prohibited.
The same rules will also apply to shishas, herbal smoking products and other devices that imitate or are associated with the act of smoking. Nicotine pouches are excluded from these restrictions in smoke-free areas, although their use will be prohibited for anyone under the age of 18.
The sale and supply of these products will be restricted to specialist shops, which will have to comply with requirements to be established at a later date. These businesses will also be prohibited from displaying advertising or signs visible from outside.
The reform bans smoking by anyone under 18
For the first time, the bill introduces an explicit ban on the consumption of tobacco products by anyone under the age of 18. Until now, the law prohibited the sale or supply of these products to minors but did not specifically ban their consumption.
According to the ESTUDES 2025 survey, 15.5% of young people aged between 14 and 18 had smoked tobacco during the previous month. In addition, 49.5% had tried electronic cigarettes at least once, while recent use rose from 14.9% in 2019 to 27.1% in 2025.
Tighter restrictions on advertising and promotion
The reform also tightens restrictions on the advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco, vaping products and other related items. The restrictions will apply online, on vending machines, at points of sale and through any other form of direct or indirect promotion.
Television programmes and other audiovisual content will also be prohibited from showing presenters, contributors or guests smoking or using these products, or displaying associated brands, trade names or logos for promotional purposes.
The legislation will also reinstate the Smoking Prevention Observatory, which was abolished in 2014. This body will prepare reports on trends in consumption and the implementation of the law, propose prevention measures and help coordinate the work of public authorities.
When the new tobacco law will come into force
The extension of the smoking ban in Spain must still be approved by the Spanish Parliament. The text may be amended during its parliamentary passage before receiving final approval.
Once approved and published in the Official State Gazette (BOE), the law will come into force 20 days later. Affected businesses and premises will have two months to update their signage.
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