What has been the reaction in Spain to the newly passed smoking ban going into effect in January?

Sure, everyone's talking about it. This could affect like half the Spanish population! I'm not a fan of it myself, a non-smoker, but sometimes extreme measures are taken in order to (better) comply with the European Union's wishes. I guess I'll get used to being in a bar/restaurant in Spain and NOT having smokers around me - but it won't be the same. For me at least, smoking is part of what makes Spain Spain. Call me crazy, but that's how I feel.

Smokers tell me, "How can I enjoy coffee/beer and NOT smoke??? That's TOTALLY incongruent!" I read that "smokers clubs" are scheduled to open shortly after the 2 January 2011 ban - but those same clubs are not permitted to serve food OR alcohol. Odd. NOR can smokers smoke withing X-meters of an outdoor playground. That's just too much.

But at least people incarcerated will still be able to smoke in the jails. Who cares about the guards/staff/other-jailbirds, right?

I plan to blog a soliloquy on this very topic in the coming weeks. You've stolen my thunder, teachertraveler8! hehehehe...

Saludos, MadridMan

No, I haven't stolen your thunder, I've set the stage for you. Now we are eagerly anticipating your blog!!

Hehehehe... Thanks for the support! I know several Spanish smokers here in Madrid so you can be sure I'll demonstrate BOTH sides of the story.

Saludos, MadridMan

Do you really think it will be inforceable? - and is there such a word?
Can only imagine how the cafe and bar owners are taking this - anticipating there profit margin going up in smoke - and no pun intended!

fantastic law!!, I've been a smoker,ex-smoker, and now I'm a smoker smoker smoker...,maybe, I'm an EX-SMOKER january 2....I hope?????

the smoking ban has been in force for 2yrs here in England,and there was massive up roars at first with people saying they will never ban them,a few tried but got fined or thrown out of the pub/restaurant,after a few months it all died down and people accepted it,and now it is the norm,it has hit the trade with people not going out,but with the price of beer in pubs people now go to the supermarket for cheap beer and stay in,so its difficult to judge if smoking has hit as hard as publicans say it has,but it is funny going past pubs and seeing everyone smoking and getting cold and wet.

As a smoker myself (trying to quit but with beer and coffee its hard hehe), I think its a good idea to enforce it strongly. I remember I went into a bar in Malaga and the smoke was overwhelming, this coming from a smoker of 8 years.

Whether Spain can keep enforce it or take on the manana attitude with this law is still to be seen.

Today, first day in prohibited smoking..Are we lepers smokers?? I think so!Congrat to the waiters, an opportunity for stop smoking

Great news indeed for me non smoker. Finally Spain caught on ::)

Look ' a bar is where you go to drink and smoke . If you don´t like that then go somewhere else . If you don´t believe in God then don't go to a church . If you don't like the bullfight then don 't go to the bullring . If you don´t like sushi or sashimi then don't go to a Japanese restaurant . It´'s a question of choice and it's a shame that governments basically restrict freedom .

WOW!!I'm four days without smoking..
and agree with you,
it's a shame that governments basically restrict freedom .

Wow! Congratulations, jazz!!!

Good for you Jazz - hang in there!!!!!!
Then maybe I'll try to quit .... once again

The BBC have been reporting about this smoking ban in Spain and that already there has been a "people´s rebellion" against the ban . I knew that the Spanish would not accept this lightly .
Puna and Pedmar it would be good to stop smoking for ever . My father died a year and a half ago from cancer of the throat ... he was a heavy smoker .. my mother only started smoking aged 32 .. After my father died she stopped smoking out of respect for my dad . She hasn't had a cigarette since .

I saw on TV one bar which was NOT observing the smoking ban on the second day because they lost too much money on the first day of the ban. We also saw in the same report the inspectors issuing fines to the bar owner.

Saludos, MadridMan

it will have some getting used to ,the same in other countries like France, but then again all or generally all will follow the law.
You have a choice to go or not to go, but there will be all smoking restaurant/clubs like they have here, and you can smoke because everybody in the place smokes ::)
cheers

There was an article on BBC online yesterday about some bar in Marbella where the owner (a non-smoker)has a sign in the front window of the establishment reading "it was a private business; they would remain a smoking establishment and it none of the government's business". Seems the place was jammed - JAMMED - with people more in defiance than for the desire to smoke aver a vino. (Mostly Brits BTW - but it is in Marbella)


Steve - you are so right! And good for your Mom.

I am curious, who are the inspectors? What if the bar owner smokes? There are an awful lot of bars and restaurants in Spain. How often are they being checked? Do you think that the smokers will win out or be defeated?

One last question/comment. I recall the "smoking booths" at Barajas with the open ceiling. It didn't matter that they were sequestered. You could still smell the smoke. Have those been eliminated at the airport?

who are the inspectors?public employees What if the bar owner smokes? For the smoker penalty of 30 euros. Only if a repeat offender (three times, enter into the consideration of severe financial penalty of between 601-10000 Euros).

For the bar punishment is considered severe, as the article says, 19.3. b "Allowing smoking in places where there is prohibition, or outside the areas provided for that purpose. "
The penalty will be severe the bar economic sanctions between EUR 601-10000€ and very serious from 10000€ to 600000€...LOL


One last question/comment. I recall the "smoking booths" at Barajas with the open ceiling. It didn't matter that they were sequestered. You could still smell the smoke. Have those been eliminated at the airport? Yes...

The inspectors are government employees. The smoking booths in Barajas, which I saw as recently as December, will surely be closed. Won't they??

Just saw a funny bit on Gente on rTVe in which a bar owner is now using the old ashtrays for tapas serving plates. LOL, the bartender bought up a bunch of ashtrays and then was showing how convenient the grooves (for resting your cigarette) makes a nice spoon holder!!!

The smoking booths at Barajas , I think , will be kept open because it reduces the risk of someone smoking on a flight ( in the toilet for example ) . But I was watching on TV that there are many bars and restaurants that will be rebelling against this European decision . It´ll be interesting to see how those that smoke the big cigars at the bullfight will react .
The European parliament is bullying other countries and Spain is the latest victim .

Happy new year to everyone to all Madridman friends and readers!

I can't believe it, people are respecting this ban. I was expecting people not to obey the new law, at least at pubs or nightclubs.
Last friday I went out in Madrid center, the city was crowded as usual. Wow! incredible! there was not smoke anywhere, at tapas bars or pubs. For me it was wonderful that I could breath fresh air while listening to live music with a pint in my hand. In addition, when I came home my clothes didn't smell of tobaco it used to, nice.
I agree with the others that it's a law too radical, problably there should be a third way, but in fact the past law allowed small bars to choose being smoking or not smoking, while big ones must had separated areas. The result, the vast majority of small bars chose to be smoking, at nightclubs with separated areas nobody respected the restrictions and smoke was everywhere, and finally only a few restaurants were smoke free. A pity, things shouldn't be like this.

Considering that two thirds of Spanish population don't smoke, probably bars will get a lot of new clients who never visited them, and be sure, smokers will complain a lot but they'll keep going to the bars.

Im looking forward to coming over and be able to goto the bars with out coming out stinking of smoke. To hell with peoples liberties im selfish!!!
The igars will still be allowed to smoke at the bullfight Steve, its only covered rings that they are not allowed to smoke.