Across Europe and North America, governments are passing legislation banning smoking in the workplace and, in some cases, in all places. With the Republic of Ireland setting the tone with its total ban in 2004, and with the UK Parliament very recently voting for a workplace smoking ban, the trend looks set to spread throughout the European Union.
In Spain, a new Act regulating the consumption, trading and advertising of tobacco products has been passed, taking effect from 1 January this year. Of all issues that the new Act regulates, it is the ban on smoking in all ‘closed spaces’ at the workplace that is the most controversial.
