Spain (AHN) – Spain has become the latest Western European country to ban smoking inside bars and restaurants.
The law, which went into effect Jan. 2, is opposed by the country’s hotel and restaurant federation, which estimates a 10-percent drop in hospitality business and more job losses at a time when Spain’s economy is already suffering.
Britain, Ireland, France and Italy passed similar laws several years ago. Supporters of indoor smoking bans say they do not end up hurting business.
Bars and restaurants that violate the ban face fines ranging from 30 euros to around 600,000 euros.
Hotels are still allowed to reserve 30 percent of their rooms for smokers.
About 30 percent of Spain’s population smokes cigarettes.
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