Finally an anti-tobacco law

Though today the big news in Spain is the government exchange of six secretaries and the long overdue "elimination" of two departments - that of housing and that of gender equality (cf. FT article at post's end) - finally the parliament in Madrid has approved a general smoking ban from January 2011 on in all restaurants and bars and also on child playgrounds and hospital facilities - though there will the exceptions for psychiatric hospitals, old-age nurseries and prisons.
This was also long overdue as the first "anti-tobacco" law of 2005 was a "toothless tiger" as it exempted bars smaller than 100 sqm, where the owners could decide if they wanted to become smoke-free; and hardly any wanted to...
Campaigners criticize that the new law will allow gas stations to install cigarette vending machines, i.e. increasing the number of places where one can buy tobacco at the same time that it is decreasing the number of places where one is allowed to smoke.


For more news on the changes in the Spanish government:

Zapatero reshuffles cabinet as austerity bites

By Victor Mallet in Madrid

Published on ft.com: October 20 2010 13:29

José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Spanish prime minister, has reshuffled his cabinet in the face of rumbling popular discontent over his handling of the economy and the government’s austerity programme.

On Wednesday he promoted Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba, the interior minister widely regarded as the most competent member of the administration, to the additional post of deputy prime minister, replacing the loyal Maria Teresa Fernández de la Vega.

Full article here