Spain's strict new anti-smoking campaign
2010-10-21
Spain has been known as one of the easiest places to light up in Western Europe, but this is expected to come to an end if a bill banning smoking in bars and cafes is passed.
If passed, the bill will ban smoking sections in bars and cafes even if the smoking sections are hermetically sealed off from the rest of the interior, the Associated Press reports.
Some restaurant owners are concerned about the effect this bill would have on tourism, such as Salvador Chacon, who owns a small bar in which he currently allows smoking, according to the news source.
"It's our way of life and it’s also what tourists look for," Chacon told the news source. He said that he believes Spain has a tradition of lighting up after sampling fine food and wine.
However, Health Minister Trinidad Jimenez points out that smokers will still be able to smoke in the outdoor seating of bars, and many nonsmokers welcome the law, stating that they will now be able to breathe clean air while enjoying a drink, according to the news source.
The news provider reports that the country's National Committee for the Prevention of Smoking claims 1,000 waiters die every year due to second-hand smoke.
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