José Luis Díaz-Maroto
Family doctor and head of communication of the working group on smoking of the Spanish Society of Primary Care Physicians (SEMERGEN)
From SEMERGEN we make a very good assessment. We have been waiting for this news for a long time, but it had to be at national level, although if it starts with an autonomous region, it is welcome. It is very important that it is put into effect. First of all, because the terraces of cafés and restaurants that are open in summer, in winter or autumn, when it is cold, often do not comply with the legislation in force ten years ago, which said that only smoking or smoking terraces that were open were allowed. Now the bar, where smoking is not allowed, has often been moved to the pavements, but the terraces are completely closed, even with doors and plastic sheeting.
Therefore, it is all very well to ban it at last, but it should be totally banned on the terraces and they should be open. And, by extension, on canopies, entrances to buildings or near schools and institutes. Current legislation should also be complied with in health centres, where smoking is prohibited in the premises, even if it is outside and in the open air, but this is not complied with either. We would make a lot of progress.
On the other hand, the fact of doing a lucrative activity or meeting with friends in cafés or restaurants that are open to the outdoors and that this leisure time is associated with smoking is not normalised. This is very good for young people: to denormalise consumption, even if it is in open spaces. And by extension, it would be very good if it were also enforced on beaches and other open spaces such as concerts. We have to go further, even if they are completely open spaces.