Spain to finally say ‘adios’ to smoking in bars

SPAIN, famed for its smoke-filled bars and restaurants, has set the stage for a tough anti-smoking law that will rid the country of its dubious status as one of Western Europe’s easiest places to light up.

The bill, passed by parliamentary commission, calls for transforming all bars and restaurants into no-smoking zones, bringing Spain in line with the EU’s strictest anti-smoking nations and many US states that ban smoking in enclosed public places. It is expected to pass the Senate and become law on January 2.

The law also will make Spain a tougher place to smoke than many other European countries where bars and restaurants are still allowed smoking sections, and will prohibit smoking in outdoor places such as playgrounds and the grounds of schools and hospitals.