Spain to introduce smoking ban

SPAIN will join countries including Ireland, Britain, France and Italy by banning smoking in bars and restaurants, it was revealed yesterday.

Health minister Trinidad Jimenez said new legislation to stop people lighting up will be brought in “as soon as possible”.

The vast majority of bars and small restaurants in Spain still allow customers to smoke, taking advantage of a loophole in a partial ban implemented three years ago.

But yesterday Mr Jimenez said they will shortly pick a date for a new smoking ban.