MADRID, SPAIN -- Spain's new anti-smoking law, which prohibits smoking in all public buildings, bars, restaurants and cafes, as well as some areas where children are present such as parks and school zones, came into force on Sunday. The law went into effect in the early hours of Sunday - as of 12 a.m. local time - when local bars and clubs were still full of habitual smokers. According to locals, waiters would pass by clients, reminding them of the new law.
Despite being a bit surprised, everyone seemed to catch on quickly as bar managers would be forced to call the police if anyone disregarded the new law. However, simple signs saying "please help us follow the law" were enough for most people to cooperate.
In addition, hefty fines accompany the law as bar and restaurant owners could face fines between €60 ($80) and €100,000 ($133,240) for allowing customers to smoke inside.
In other areas such as public parks, people continued to smoke as many are still unfamiliar with the new law. Several people also ignored the law in sanitary facilities such as hospitals, but officials believe that after the new year's weekend is over, citizens will begin to abide quickly.
Spain's Congress approved the anti-smoking law on December 21, giving little time to inform all citizens.
According to the country's Health Ministry, smoking is Spain's top avoidable cause of death with an estimated 60,000 people dying of smoke-related causes each year, 1,500 of them only being passive smokers.
In 2006, Spain adopted its first anti-tobacco law but restaurant and bar owners were allowed to choose whether to allow or completely ban smoking. As a result, 95 percent of them chose to allow smoking despite 65 percent of Spain's population being non-smokers.
