When France and the United Kingdom, among others, announce new measures to combat smoking, Spain continues to debate whether to limit tobacco consumption in social settings or continue with its policy of considering this addiction as a public health problem although without doing anything , as happened during the last legislature.

Then, he committed to tackling this problem, for which a team from the general directorate of public health worked for many months. From this work came the Comprehensive Smoking Prevention and Control Plan 2021-2025, after receiving indications from the autonomous communities and scientific societies. This text is a roadmap that outlines the steps to reduce tobacco consumption by 30% by 2025 (compared to 2010 data) and makes clear the need to reform the 2005 and 2010 regulations.

But that work was left in a drawer. The aforementioned plan was never approved in the Interterritorial Health Council for reasons never clarified by the then Minister of Health Carolina Darias and, with it, the reform of the anti-tobacco law.

But this paralysis seems to have its days numbered. Government sources confirm that in this legislature the anti-smoking plan will be recovered, which includes the expansion of smoke-free spaces, and several laws will be reformed in an attempt to reduce tobacco consumption, especially among minors.

And precisely with the new generations in mind, the Ministry of Health will regulate the use of vapers, which, as previous minister José Miñones recognized, “are not what they sold in their day,” a method to quit smoking. According to the National Committee for the Prevention of Smoking (CNPT), vaping multiplies by four the chances of being a conventional tobacco smoker. Furthermore, 8 out of 10 minors who smoke started this type of consumption, a trend that is growing more among girls.

The work for its regulation began with Miñones, but was interrupted by the call for elections, although it will continue in the coming months, once the new team led by Mónica García has been formed. This reform will possibly arrive later than those announced by Galicia or Andalusia, which have already announced the prohibition of these products for minors, the new consumers targeted by the tobacco industry.

Health is working on the transposition of the European directive that prohibits any other technical characteristic that allows modifying the smell or taste of tobacco products or intensifying the smoke. The organization Nofumadores.org believes that it is not enough to regulate their use and prevent children and adolescents from accessing them and is committed to removing them directly from the market.

The Comprehensive Plan for the Prevention and Control of Smoking, which contemplates the reform of the 2005 law, will entail the expansion of smoke-free spaces. This plan establishes not only prohibiting smoking on terraces, but also in open sports spaces (such as football or athletics fields) and in outdoor places where the attendance of minors is expected. Also on the beaches. The Health technicians had proposed the prohibition of smoking in vehicles when minors or pregnant women travel in them, although on this point, the political leaders have not said anything again.

Regarding taxes, Sumar, a coalition to which Minister García belongs, proposes an increase for tobacco products. Queen Letizia has also been in favor of raising the price of tobacco.