SPAIN: Even most traditional Spanish cafes turn smoke-free as country adopts one of the European Union's strictest smoking bans

Record ID: 560642

  • Title: SPAIN: Even most traditional Spanish cafes turn smoke-free as country adopts one of the European Union's strictest smoking bans
  • Date: 3rd January 2011
  • Summary: MADRID, SPAIN (JANUARY 2, 2011) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF CAFE GIJON CUSTOMERS SITTING INSIDE CAFE SIGN READING: "100 YEARS OF HISTORY AT CAFE GIJON" "NO SMOKING" SIGN ON CAFE DOOR VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SMOKING OUTSIDE VARIOUS OF MEN HAVING BREAKFAST INSIDE CAFE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) LOCAL RESIDENT RAUL, SAYING: "I guess it is positive, especially for those who serve at the tables. But I think it is a waste of money for bar owners as they have isolated specific areas and I don't know what kind of measures they are going to get in return." VARIOUS OF CUSTOMERS HAVING BREAKFAST IN CAFE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CAFE GIJON MAITRE, MARIANO PADILLO, SAYING: "There are still going to be 'tertulias' but as people smoked before and still smoke, I don't know what is going to happen with this new law. But I think people are going to stop coming." VARIOUS OF GROUP HAVING BREAKFAST IN CAFE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CUBAN WOMAN SAYING: "Well, I think it is convenient that smoking is banned, because I have been left without a voice after breathing in smoke over Christmas. I don't have anything against pure tobacco, but I am against cigarettes, as what is in them isn't pure." VARIOUS OF CUSTOMERS HAVING BREAKFAST IN CAFE
  • Embargoed: 18th January 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Spain, Spain
  • Country: Spain
  • Topics: Health,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA17FK24PH9M6WTRXPEHORZEPFR
  • Story Text: Years of tradition at one of Madrid's iconic cafes came to an abrupt end on Sunday (January 2) as Spain adopted one of the European Union's strictest anti-smoking laws.
    The classy Cafe Gijon, a popular haunt for artists and writers over the course of its 123-year-history, traded in its traditional smoke-filled interior for a new smoke-free look.
    The new law, proposed by Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's cabinet, prohibits smoking in bars, restaurants and outdoor areas such as playgrounds and the grounds of schools and hospitals, and rejects a Senate amendment to allow casinos to have smoking areas.
    The government says the ban is a necessary step to tackle the 55,000 smoking-related deaths in Spain each year.
    Raul, who was having breakfast with a friend at Cafe Gijon on Sunday agreed with the health benefits but said he was concerned about the possible economic impact.
    "I guess it is positive, especially for those who serve at the tables. But I think it is a waste of money for bar owners as they have isolated specific areas and I don't know what kind of measures they are going to get in return," he told Reuters.
    A previous partial ban, which came into force in 2006, forced businesses over 100 square metres to set up separate smoking areas, and smaller establishments were allowed to choose whether they wanted to be smoke-free or not.
    Mariano Parrillo, 'maitre' at Cafe Gijon for 33 years, said the staff and owners were worried that the literary circles, or 'tertulias', which have been held at the cafe for years, would disappear
    "There are still going to be 'tertulias' but as people smoked before and still smoke, I don't know what is going to happen with this new law. But I think people are going to stop coming," said Parrillo, himself a smoker for 25 years.
    Surveys by the Ministry of Health show that about 30% of Spaniards smoke, putting them at risk of developing more than 25 different ailments, such as heart disease, cancer, lung conditions or asthma. Passive smokers, who make-up 60 to 70 percent of the population, are also deemed to be at risk.
    Ines, a Cuban woman with Spanish nationality, said she was glad the Government had banned cigarette smoking.
    "Well, I think it is convenient that smoking is banned, because I have been left without a voice after breathing in smoke over Christmas. I don't have anything against pure tobacco, but I am against cigarettes, as what is in them isn't pure," she said.
    The bill still allows smoking in hotel rooms - although 70 percent of them must be smoke-free - stadiums, bullfighting arenas, prisons and psychiatric hospitals.
    Great Britain, Ireland and Cyprus are among the strictest EU countries when it comes to tobacco and have banned smoking in all public places.
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