Strict smoking bans: holidaymakers in Europe will soon have to be careful!

Strict smoking bans: holidaymakers in Europe will soon have to be careful!

Smoking rules are being tightened considerably in many European holiday destinations, particularly on beaches where more and more places are becoming smoke-free. Loud fr.de In Italy, there has been an almost complete ban on smoking in Milan since January 1, 2025. Smoking is only allowed at a minimum distance of 10 meters from other people, and violations are punished with fines of up to 240 euros. Smoking has also been banned in certain public areas such as parks, sports facilities, playgrounds and cemeteries since 2021.

Smoking bans or special smoking areas are also in force on Italian beaches. In Spain, particularly in cities such as Barcelona and the tourist regions of the Costa Blanca, many beaches are also smoke-free. Fines of between 30 and 1,800 euros can be imposed here. Future legal regulations could also affect smoking e-cigarettes on beaches.

Further regulations in Europe

Portugal has introduced a ban on smoking on beaches, which is punishable by fines of between 50 and 500 euros. In addition, listening to loud music and other activities such as playing ball are also restricted, with heavy fines. France will introduce a comprehensive ban on smoking in parks and beaches from July 1, 2025, but will exclude e-cigarettes.

The EU aims to create a tobacco-free generation by 2040, with less than 5% of the population using tobacco. Loud europeannewsroom.com Around 700,000 people die every year in the EU as a result of tobacco consumption, many of them from passive smoking. Smoking is a leading cause of cancer and premature deaths in the European Union.

Given these alarming figures, EU health ministers are supporting measures to expand smoke-free zones to reduce the number of cancer deaths. Ultimately, however, responsibility for health policy lies with the individual member states, which is why new recommendations are not binding. Despite this, 16 million euros were allocated to anti-tobacco measures and 80 million euros to tobacco control research.

Differences in smoking habits

Smoking rates across the EU vary considerably. While Sweden is almost there in reducing tobacco consumption, the situation is significantly different in Bulgaria, where 37% of the population smokes. Greece is considered smoker-friendly, and Croatia also has high smoking rates at 35%. In contrast, countries such as Ireland and the former UK have introduced high taxes on tobacco products, leading to lower smoking rates.

Progressive action across EU Member States and continued awareness of the dangers of smoking show that there is a strong, shared commitment to public health, although implementation and acceptance varies from country to country. Tackling tobacco consumption remains a key challenge to minimize health risks and promote a smoke-free generation.