Spain moves to tighten tobacco rules, fine parents if their underage children smoke

The Spanish government approved a draft of the country's new anti-smoking law, which comes amid a push to curb young people's access to tobacco and boost public health.

The law would extend Spain's smoke-free spaces, end the sale of single-use vapes, and ban tobacco advertising. It would also expressly prohibit shops from selling tobacco products to minors – and fine their parents if they are caught smoking.

Smoking and vaping will be newly banned in commercial vehicles, swimming pools, university campuses, public transport stations, and restaurant and bar terraces, among other outdoor venues.

Under the proposed law, products such as vapes, nicotine pouches, herbal products, and tobacco-heating devices would be treated the same way as traditional cigarettes.

The reform establishes three categories of offences. Minor offences, punishable by fines of €100 to €600, include smoking or vaping in prohibited places, failure to comply with rules at shops or vending machines, and tobacco consumption by minors, whose penalties will be imposed directly on their parents or guardians.

Serious infringements, which will carry fines between €601 and €10,000, range from setting up smoking areas in unpermitted spaces to accumulating three penalties for smoking in prohibited places.

Other serious violations include the sale of loose cigarettes or cigarette packets of less than 20 units, distributing tobacco freely, and allowing minors to access to vending machines where tobacco products are sold.

At the highest level are the very serious infringements, punishable by fines of €10,001 and €600,000. These focus on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship across all media. The only exception is promotion in professional industry publications.

The Spanish government said the reforms aim to adapt the country's tobacco regulations to new forms of consumption, reinforce public health protection, and reduce people's exposure to tobacco, particularly for young people.

About a quarter of people aged 15 and older in Spain smoke, according to European Union data.