Is the new anti-smoking law working?
Jan 2nd 2011, 7:40 am
#1
Lost in BE Cyberspace
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Joined: Apr 2009
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Is the new anti-smoking law working?
It starts today, at long last!
It is now prohibited to smoke in any enclosed public space, including bars, restaurants and covered terraces. Its also banned in children's parks and outside hospitals.
So, as you go out and about your business in the next few days, take a note if it is working and let everyone know on here.
The fines range from 600-10,000 euros for establishments who let people smoke. If you see someone smoking you can fill in the libro de reclamaciones and then take your copy to the municipal police. More details here (in Spanish)
http://www.elpais.com/articulo/socie...lpepisoc_5/Tes
It is now prohibited to smoke in any enclosed public space, including bars, restaurants and covered terraces. Its also banned in children's parks and outside hospitals.
So, as you go out and about your business in the next few days, take a note if it is working and let everyone know on here.
The fines range from 600-10,000 euros for establishments who let people smoke. If you see someone smoking you can fill in the libro de reclamaciones and then take your copy to the municipal police. More details here (in Spanish)
http://www.elpais.com/articulo/socie...lpepisoc_5/Tes
Jan 2nd 2011, 7:48 am
#2
Popping in for a chat
Joined: Jun 2006
Location: Back home
Posts: 4,573
Re: Is the new anti-smoking law working?
It starts today, at long last!
It is now prohibited to smoke in any enclosed public space, including bars, restaurants and covered terraces. Its also banned in children's parks and outside hospitals.
So, as you go out and about your business in the next few days, take a note if it is working and let everyone know on here.
The fines range from 600-10,000 euros for establishments who let people smoke. If you see someone smoking you can fill in the libro de reclamaciones and then take your copy to the municipal police. More details here (in Spanish)
http://www.elpais.com/articulo/socie...lpepisoc_5/Tes
It is now prohibited to smoke in any enclosed public space, including bars, restaurants and covered terraces. Its also banned in children's parks and outside hospitals.
So, as you go out and about your business in the next few days, take a note if it is working and let everyone know on here.
The fines range from 600-10,000 euros for establishments who let people smoke. If you see someone smoking you can fill in the libro de reclamaciones and then take your copy to the municipal police. More details here (in Spanish)
http://www.elpais.com/articulo/socie...lpepisoc_5/Tes
Jan 2nd 2011, 7:49 am
#3
Joined: May 2006
Location: Galicia
Posts: 3,140
Re: Is the new anti-smoking law working?
The advice for bars restaurants etc is to call the police if they see someone smoking. So don't just think the fines are for the bar owners. If you smoke and do not stop facing the police is not a nice option.
But controlling the non smoking laws.....................................what a waste of police time.
But controlling the non smoking laws.....................................what a waste of police time.
Jan 2nd 2011, 8:14 am
#4
Ex Expat
Joined: Oct 2006
Location: West Midlands, ex Granada province
Posts: 2,140
Re: Is the new anti-smoking law working?
I am a non-smoker and hate the smoky bars and having to have a shower and put my clothes in the wash the instant I get home because I and they reek of smoke. It will be nice to have a drink without coughing, having streaming eyes and smelly hair.
However, until smoking is made illegal, I still believe that people who wish to smoke should have a choice. What is wrong with having a smoking room?
I too think it is a complete waste of police time to expect them to police this, the person you have reported will have finished their fag and gone home long since!
Apart from that, I don't think anyone in these parts will take any notice, including the Guardia.
However, until smoking is made illegal, I still believe that people who wish to smoke should have a choice. What is wrong with having a smoking room?
I too think it is a complete waste of police time to expect them to police this, the person you have reported will have finished their fag and gone home long since!
Apart from that, I don't think anyone in these parts will take any notice, including the Guardia.
Jan 2nd 2011, 8:18 am
#5
FreeThinker
Joined: Nov 2009
Location: the moors and levels
Posts: 9,702
Re: Is the new anti-smoking law working?
I am a non-smoker and hate the smoky bars and having to have a shower and put my clothes in the wash the instant I get home because I and they reek of smoke. It will be nice to have a drink without coughing, having streaming eyes and smelly hair.
However, until smoking is made illegal, I still believe that people who wish to smoke should have a choice. What is wrong with having a smoking room?
I too think it is a complete waste of police time to expect them to police this, the person you have reported will have finished their fag and gone home long since!
Apart from that, I don't think anyone in these parts will take any notice, including the Guardia.
However, until smoking is made illegal, I still believe that people who wish to smoke should have a choice. What is wrong with having a smoking room?
I too think it is a complete waste of police time to expect them to police this, the person you have reported will have finished their fag and gone home long since!
Apart from that, I don't think anyone in these parts will take any notice, including the Guardia.
Jan 2nd 2011, 8:27 am
#6
Lost in BE Cyberspace
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Re: Is the new anti-smoking law working?
[QUOTE=scampicat;9071998]
I too think it is a complete waste of police time to expect them to police this, the person you have reported will have finished their fag and gone home long since!QUOTE]
Yes you can report the person too, but the point is that you can report the establishment, they are responsible and will get a hefty fine. How many small bars can afford a 600 euro plus fine?
I too think it will work, although there may be some teething problems. I am interested to see what people see and experience over the next few days
I too think it is a complete waste of police time to expect them to police this, the person you have reported will have finished their fag and gone home long since!QUOTE]
Yes you can report the person too, but the point is that you can report the establishment, they are responsible and will get a hefty fine. How many small bars can afford a 600 euro plus fine?
I too think it will work, although there may be some teething problems. I am interested to see what people see and experience over the next few days
Jan 2nd 2011, 8:30 am
#8
Ex Expat
Joined: Oct 2006
Location: West Midlands, ex Granada province
Posts: 2,140
Re: Is the new anti-smoking law working?
I am on an Andalucian hillside too, in a small pueblo blanco in the Sierra Nevada mountains
Our Fiesta starts today. It will be interesting to see how many of our five bars enforce the smoking laws. If I were a betting person, I would bet none!
One of the bar owners says she has a special licence to allow smoking because the bar is also her sitting room. So all will be par for the course in that one then!
I will let you know later!
(edited to add: Just to say that no-one will be happier than me if it DOES work!).
Last edited by scampicat; Jan 2nd 2011 at 8:33 am.
Jan 2nd 2011, 8:33 am
#9
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Re: Is the new anti-smoking law working?
She's lying. You cant even smoke at your home office if you receive clients there. The El Pais article explains everything
Jan 2nd 2011, 8:38 am
#10
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Re: Is the new anti-smoking law working?
Hi,
Surprizingly, it has worked quite well in France.
If there's no outdoor terrace, smokers stand outside on the pavement and go back in again to drink. You also see clusters of employees smoking outside their shops/places of work. On the other hand, there are still those who smoke in railway stations and on covered platforms, but they've got time to disappear before Officialdom arrives.
If the usually undisciplined French can obey the rules, more or less, so can their Spanish cousins!
Surprizingly, it has worked quite well in France.
If there's no outdoor terrace, smokers stand outside on the pavement and go back in again to drink. You also see clusters of employees smoking outside their shops/places of work. On the other hand, there are still those who smoke in railway stations and on covered platforms, but they've got time to disappear before Officialdom arrives.
If the usually undisciplined French can obey the rules, more or less, so can their Spanish cousins!
Jan 2nd 2011, 8:59 am
#11
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 71
Re: Is the new anti-smoking law working?
Hi,
Not sure people will stop smoking but I think the ban will mean many people cut down. I am a smoker and definately smoked less over the christmas break whilst visiting UK. I do hope that ashtrays are provided outside establishments as I found the amount of "fag ends" strewn around the back doors of buildings and on the pavements near bars/restaurants was really dreadful.
No doubt statistics in Spain (not usually accurate?) will show by the end of the year that ciggy sales have dropped but how much of that will be due to the economic problems of unemployment, withdrawal of long term benefits etc will be hard to quantify.
On a selfish level (after all, I am an addict), I would prefer a smoking area in bars for the cold winter months but have always been totally in favour of not smoking where people are eating!
Could someone possibly enlighten me on what constitutes a "covered terrace"? Our local village bar has just fitted a bamboo shade over the outside terrace as it is in full sun (usually). Is this also now a non-smoking area I wonder......
Not sure people will stop smoking but I think the ban will mean many people cut down. I am a smoker and definately smoked less over the christmas break whilst visiting UK. I do hope that ashtrays are provided outside establishments as I found the amount of "fag ends" strewn around the back doors of buildings and on the pavements near bars/restaurants was really dreadful.
No doubt statistics in Spain (not usually accurate?) will show by the end of the year that ciggy sales have dropped but how much of that will be due to the economic problems of unemployment, withdrawal of long term benefits etc will be hard to quantify.
On a selfish level (after all, I am an addict), I would prefer a smoking area in bars for the cold winter months but have always been totally in favour of not smoking where people are eating!
Could someone possibly enlighten me on what constitutes a "covered terrace"? Our local village bar has just fitted a bamboo shade over the outside terrace as it is in full sun (usually). Is this also now a non-smoking area I wonder......
Jan 2nd 2011, 9:07 am
#12
Joined: May 2006
Location: Galicia
Posts: 3,140
Re: Is the new anti-smoking law working?
Hi,
Surprizingly, it has worked quite well in France.
If there's no outdoor terrace, smokers stand outside on the pavement and go back in again to drink. You also see clusters of employees smoking outside their shops/places of work. On the other hand, there are still those who smoke in railway stations and on covered platforms, but they've got time to disappear before Officialdom arrives.
If the usually undisciplined French can obey the rules, more or less, so can their Spanish cousins!
Surprizingly, it has worked quite well in France.
If there's no outdoor terrace, smokers stand outside on the pavement and go back in again to drink. You also see clusters of employees smoking outside their shops/places of work. On the other hand, there are still those who smoke in railway stations and on covered platforms, but they've got time to disappear before Officialdom arrives.
If the usually undisciplined French can obey the rules, more or less, so can their Spanish cousins!
So who in France gets fined? The bar owners; the person smoking? Who fines the lawbreakers the police; the bar owner?
I have stayed at French hotels many times and surprised at the amount of cig butt ends laying on the ground below the hotel rooms!
Regarding the comment about the smoker leaving the bar before the police arrive. Would a smoker chance that the police have not been called for a previous smoker and the police turn up later in the day or just happen to pass by?
Jan 2nd 2011, 9:09 am
#13
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Re: Is the new anti-smoking law working?
"Según la ley, solo se podrá fumar en aquellos lugares que tengan, como mucho, dos paredes y un techo"
http://www.elpais.com/articulo/socie...pepusoc_11/Tes
Jan 2nd 2011, 9:11 am
#14
Joined: May 2006
Location: Galicia
Posts: 3,140
Re: Is the new anti-smoking law working?
The thing about this law is that more bars are allowed to have a machine inside then previous, plus petrol garages will also now be allowed to sell cigs from machines. So now there will be a greater number of point of sales.
Jan 2nd 2011, 9:18 am
#15
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Re: Is the new anti-smoking law working?
"A poll" Is what they used to have. Any bar that wanted seemed to be able to ask a couple of it's punters if they wanted to smoke. And then post up an A4 declaration that the law didn't apply to them.
A poll would work. It would make every bar a smoking bar to the detriment of all of us, including smokers themselves, bar owners and children. Even smokers benefit from a ban. I have sympathy for smokers having been a 30 a day girl once upon a time.
This has all been said before.
A poll would work. It would make every bar a smoking bar to the detriment of all of us, including smokers themselves, bar owners and children. Even smokers benefit from a ban. I have sympathy for smokers having been a 30 a day girl once upon a time.
This has all been said before.