British holidaymakers are facing even more woe in Spain as the government proposes a smoking ban on terraces and open-air nightclubs.
Spain’s Ministry of Health is preparing a law to extend smoke-free spaces to terraces, bus stops, work vehicles, uni campuses, communal swimming pools and open-air nightclubs.
The latest measure, confirmed by Spain’s minister of health Mónica García today, was borne out of an anti-smoking plan approved by autonomous communities at the Interterritorial Council of the National Health System, which sought to expand smoke-free zones across Spain.
The draft bill will need to be approved by Spain’s Council of Ministers before it is sent to the Cortes Generales, the country’s parliament.
There, it will require agreement from other parties before it is made an official law.
Garcia told El Pais this week that she was pushing for the measure so that ‘Spain can once again be at the forefront of anti-tobacco policies.’
She added: ‘I hope we don’t give in to the lobbies that are exerting significant pressure, as they always have. And the tobacco lobby is doing its job. But ours is to defend the health of the population, of the citizens.’
But the plan may drive even more British holidaymakers away from the country, following a decision by Spain’s government to ahead with a controversial plan to slam Brits with a 100% tax on holiday homes in order to tackle a growing housing crisis.
The country has also seen a raft of protests against over-tourism that has pushed visitors from all over the world away from the nation.
British holidaymakers are facing even more woe in Spain as the government proposes a smoking ban on terraces and open-air nightclubs
Spain’s Ministry of Health is preparing a law to extend smoke-free spaces to terraces, bus stops, work vehicles, uni campuses, communal swimming pools and open-air nightclubs
The plan may drive British holidaymakers away from the country
British tourists were warned earlier this year that many of them face massive fines for vaping on Spanish beaches.
Smoking is not permitted on many beaches in Spain, and 28 beaches on the Baleraic Islands as well as 10 beaches in Barcelona and others across the country have said vaping is prohibited.
Mike Byers, director of WickdUp, a vaping firm, said: ‘Whilst it may be tempting to sneakily use your vape whilst relaxing on the beach, it is important to abide by local regulations and laws.
‘Smoking is generally permitted in private, open-air terraces of bars and restaurants, provided that the area is not enclosed or covered by more than two walls and a roof.
‘So if you’re craving your vape, take it as an opportunity to enjoy some time at a local bar or restaurant and get an all important rest from the direct sun.
‘If in doubt, use Gov.uk to seek advice whenever unsure and stay up to date with laws and regulations in every country.
‘Many EU countries allow vaping in public spaces, so consider these countries when planning your summer get away.’
And with strikes planned on the Balearics in June and July and anti-tourism protests happening across much of Spain, particularly in mainland cities and on the Canary Islands, you’d be forgiven for pointing your compass elsewhere this summer.
Recent weeks have seen holidaymakers cowering in hotels across the Canaries as fed-up locals have disrupted sunshine bliss for thousands of tourists.
Canarian residents in Madrid protest against mass tourism in the Canary Islands. Protest In Madrid Against Mass Tourism In The Canary Islands, Spain – 18 May 2025
Tourists heading to Mallorca, Ibiza and Menorca could see their holidays disrupted by waves of strikes this summer
Several activists stage a performance, pouring waste and sewage water on Canary Islands politicians, as thousands of people are protesting against the tourism model and mass tourism in the Canary Islands in Tenefire, Spain on May 18, 2025
Protests have taken place in Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Ela Hierro, La Palma, La Gomera, and Lanzarote, with those protesting chanting the slogan ‘Canarias tiene un limite’ (The Canaries has a limit) as they marched through popular resorts.
Demonstrators have also taken to the streets in Barcelona and Valencia as well as Madrid, as tensions towards tourists have continued to rise over the last year.
In April, locals fired water pistols at a tour bus outside Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia, as they warned of bigger protests this summer.
And tourists heading to Mallorca, Ibiza and Menorca could see their holidays disrupted by waves of strikes this summer.
Hotel workers across the Balearic islands are set to down tools in protests over pay and conditions during June and July – saying they’re keen to cause as much upheaval as possible for tourists to cause maximum impact.
The decision to strike – which is likely to affect thousands of holidaymakers – comes after the workers’ union, Unión General de Trabajadores (UGT), said they were dissatisfied with progress during ongoing talks.
