The Spanish Parliament on Tuesday toughened the country's anti-smoking legislation, putting Spain in line with the strictest anti-smoking countries in Europe, dpa reported.
Parliament gave a green light to a bill banning smoking in bars, restaurants, discotheques, casinos and bingo halls starting January 2.
Smoking will even be prohibited in outdoor public areas such as playgrounds, schoolyards or hospital yards.
A 2006 law had already banned smoking at workplaces and in public buildings such as hospitals, schools, shopping centres or railway stations.
Yet the law allowed bar or restaurant owners to decide whether to authorize smoking in their establishments, which the vast majority did.
Owners of leisure establishments opposed the smoking ban, saying it would keep their clients away.
The government rejects such arguments, saying smoking bans have not had a significant effect on that sector in other Western countries.
Those violating the ban can face fines as high as 600,000 euros (780,000 dollars).
Spain adopts strict anti-smoking legislation
The Spanish Parliament on Tuesday toughened the country's anti-smoking legislation, putting Spain in line with the strictest anti-smoking countries in Europe, dpa reported.
