The Balearic Institute of Family and Community Medicine (IBAMFIC) has urged the Government’s Health Department to back a ban on smoking in bar and restaurant terraces, describing it as a “decisive opportunity” to protect the most vulnerable groups. The proposed reform of the Anti-Smoking Law includes this measure, which IBAMFIC says is crucial for public health.
In a statement, IBAMFIC expressed deep concern over the Health Department’s opposition to the terrace smoking ban. The organisation highlighted the importance of prioritising health rights over other interests, stressing that authorities have a legal and moral duty to protect citizens. Tobacco, they remind, remains the world’s leading cause of cancer, killing half of its users and causing over 16 types of the disease.
Tobacco-related deaths in Spain reached over 63,000 in 2024, making it the leading preventable cause of death. IBAMFIC warned that there is no safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke, with outdoor smoking on terraces still posing a real danger to those involuntarily exposed to secondhand smoke.
The institute noted that the ‘Smoke-Free Spaces’ initiative introduced during the pandemic was a temporary measure pending the current legal reforms. It pointed out that the World Health Organization now advocates for ‘Smoke- and Aerosol-Free Spaces’, especially given concerns that new nicotine products increase the likelihood of minors taking up smoking.
IBAMFIC cautioned that abandoning the proposed ban would leave the public unprotected. International evidence shows such bans reduce smoking rates, protect non-smokers, and do not harm the hospitality industry in the long term. In the Balearic Islands, 212 venues have joined the #RespiroLibre campaign, but IBAMFIC insists the new law must make these protections mandatory to be truly effective.