British tourists are facing a new ban in Majorca. Following the ban on smoking on terraces, the Balearic Minister of Health, Manuela Garcia, has called for even stricter measures.
Garcia has said the regional government “respects” the new ban but wants to go “further” to protect young people from the dangers of smoking. She has called for measures to help smokers quit and protect non-smokers, noting a bill hoping to achieve a “smoke-free” society.
This would include prohibiting flavourings and CBD being added to vapes and e-cigarettes, as well as restrict the sale of nicotine pouches. Garcia said: “Today, a completely watered-down law is being passed that has not satisfied anyone. One of the most effective measures is generic packaging, but the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, María Jesús Montero, has ruled it out because it would have a negative impact on tax revenue.”
The new anti-smoking law will ban smoking from work vehicles, educational centres – including outdoor spaces such as school playgrounds and university campuses, sports facilities, public swimming pools, bus shelters, and the exteriors of nightclubs.
The legislation aims to protect public health, with a special focus on vulnerable populations like children and pregnant women. In a statement, García said: “We have always said it. It is time to be ambitious in the fight against smoking, one of the main threats to public health causing 30% of cancers.”
García added that smoke-free public spaces “are backed by scientific evidence, international experience” and EU recommendations, as well as being “supported by a majority of citizens, including smokers, who are asking us to take a firm stance against the scourge of tobacco.”
Currently, there are 50 beaches across the popular tourist islands that have been officially designated as “smoke-free” or “healthy” zones. This initiative forms part of a broader campaign aimed at curbing tobacco use among young people.
Recent findings from a drug use survey conducted in the Balearic Islands reveal that 34.5% of students aged between 14 and 18 have tried smoking at least once, while 6.9% report smoking daily within the last month.
In light of these figures, regional authorities are intensifying efforts to educate young people about the risks associated with tobacco use. Their focus is on prevention and fostering healthier lifestyle choices, which they consider meaningful steps forward in protecting public health.