Posted on 09/20/2025 12:24:33 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Spain is preparing to tighten up tobacco law, but the nightlife sector in the country is lighting up the debate.
Spain Nightlife, the national association for nightclubs, and Fecasarm, the Catalan federation of bar and music venues, are not happy and have formally challenged the government’s proposed tobacco law reforms. What’s at stake? Whether smokers can light up on terraces and open-air spaces at bars, restaurants, and clubs.
Spain’s nightlife questions the smoking ban: “Unnecessary and unjustified!” The draft law, currently under public consultation, includes some clauses that would ban traditional tobacco on terraces and other outdoor areas. But the nightlife sector calls these measures “disproportionate”, adding that there’s no solid scientific evidence to justify them.
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Spain’s new banking rules: what expats need to know They also want the law to drop a section that lumps non-tobacco, nicotine-free products (think shishas) under the tobacco umbrella. “Unnecessary, unjustified, and legally over the top,” the associations warn.
Fecasarm and Spain Nightlife are pushing for dialogue, asking authorities to apply proportionality and legal reasoning. Their message? “Don’t kill our business with rules that make no sense.”
They explain the restrictions could hit the nightlife economy hard, at a time when many venues are already struggling due to lower local and tourist consumption, rising taxes, and costs with workforce.
Is this law killing the tourism sector? The Catalan federation Fecalon is also stepping into the ‘fight’ ring. Their analysis of the draft law echoes the concerns of their peers: the proposals could trigger social, economic, and public order headaches. Forcing smokers off terraces may create crowded sidewalks, annoy neighbours, and make management for bar owners a lot more complicated.
They also said that Europe-wide, only Sweden has rules similar to those proposed, leaving Spain at a competitive disadvantage in the tourism sector. Their recent survey shows over 85 per cent of nightlife operators report worsened economic conditions in 2025. And, according to them, the new rules could make this situation even worse.
In short, Spain’s nightlife scene is fighting against the smoking ban. Between protecting public health and preserving open-air social life, bars, clubs, and restaurants are making their voices heard. The ‘tobacco war’ is just beginning and it’s a sensitive one, for sure.
Who cares?
Funny line in a Jimmy Faila interview last night.
“Do you support the new trend of health improvements now being directed at dogs such as diets, exercise and health conscious lifestyles and changes in nutrition?”
Failla: “To be honest, my dog is a smoker. My wife and I have talked to him already. He wears the patch on his shoulder. We’re trying.”
adults should be able to smoke in a bar! club, whatever you want to call it. I do not smoke anymore but I don’t care if u do.
Antismokers actually aren’t against smoking. They are just sniveling bullies who like to throw their weight around, if they can. They also aspire to run HOAs and such. Any communist country uses their ilk as political police.
I don’t smoke and don’t have a dog in this fight, but the last time I was in Spain, two years ago, I’d guess-timate, based on observation, that among urban young adults 18-30 (i.e., the sort of demographic that are the prime clientele of night clubs), the rate of smoking and/or vaping was probably >40%... much higher than in the U.S. You ban smoking/vaping, 4 out of 10 of your customers decide maybe it’s easier just to party at home
Filthy government doing what filthy governments do.
Here’s a plan...let the clubs decide for themselves then the market will sort things out. It’s called freedom.
Exactly! There is a type of vermin that gravitate towards being on HOA’s, school boards, city councils, county commissions, politicians in general, and yes some cops who get their rocks lording it over others. These are despicable wretches who basically loathe themselves.
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