Portugal has announced its intention to prohibit the smoking near schools and hospitals as well as in covered outdoor seating areas.
This was disclosed by the country’s health minister,Manuel Pizarro, on Thursday.
The proposal, which will be debated in Parliament at an undefined time, would also prohibit smoking in all indoor venues, including smoking areas inside cafes.
Furthermore, it would restrict the construction of additional such zones and the selling of tobacco products in places where smoking is prohibited beginning in 2025.
The European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, stated in June that it hoped to reduce tobacco consumption in the 27-country bloc to fewer than 5% of the population by 2040.
Smoking was first banned in public indoor spaces in Portugal more than a decade ago.
“With this law, we hope that young people can live in an environment without tobacco, reduce the incentive to smoke and allow smokers to overcome their addiction,” Manuel Pizarro said after a Council of Ministers meeting.
“Our objective is to have a generation living without tobacco by 2040… this law is in line with the EU’s anti-tobacco stance, but we wish to go further,” he added.
