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Date Published: 14/12/2023
Spanish anti-smoking groups propose making tobacco illegal for people born after 2009
Nofumadores is pushing the Ministry of Health in Spain to be “brave and bold” in the fight against smoking
The Nofumadores anti-smoking association has asked the Ministry of Health in Spain to adopt more forceful measures in its fight against tobacco, and has suggested that the sale of cigarettes and all related products be banned for those born after 2009.
This request follows Minister Mónica García's promise to resurrect the dormant ‘Comprehensive Plan’ and push ahead with a reform of the Anti-Tobacco Law.
While Nofumadores doesn’t believe the Spanish government is going far enough, many people were dismayed this week to learn of plans to once again prohibit smoking on outdoor bar and restaurant terraces.
In light of this, the association’s president, Raquel Fernández Megina, has urged the minister to be “brave and bold” in her restrictions on cigarettes and tobacco products, all of which are known to cause “serious health problems.”
Nofumadores is therefore pushing an initiative it calls the 'Tobacco Endgame', which aims to ensure that future generations grow up without access to nicotine by banning sales to anyone born after 2009, even once they come of age.
Currently, the average price of a pack in Spain is five euros, significantly lower than other European countries and the World Health Organisation (WHO) backs the group’s belief that cigarettes should be hiked up to 10 euros to discourage smokers. This would actually be more in line with the price of a pack in France and way behind the UK, where a box of 20 is soon expected to reach 23 euros.
The Ministry of Health is now studying a number of options to create more smoke-free public places in Spain. To date, Nofumadores has collected almost 363,000 signatures through Change.org for smoke-free beaches and nearly 188,000 signatures calling for smoke-free terraces.
The group has also called for an immediate ban on single-use vapes, again following the example of France and the United Kingdom, due to public health and environmental reasons, especially as they are largely aimed at children and adolescents.
Image: Valentin Ottone/Flickr
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