The objective of protecting the health of minors has become the main argument to promote the reform of the tobacco law -or antitabaco. A modification that seeks to harden current restrictions and adapt them to new forms of consumption such as vapers.
That is at least what the Ministry of Health of Mónica García says, to justify two novel measures included in the draft law that modifies the norm born in 2005. The first, beyond reinforcing the prohibition of smoking outdoors in spaces such as bars or parks terraces, is the extension of the restriction to minors.
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The anti -tabaco law matches the ‘vapers’ with cigarettes and also prohibits them
As with alcohol, they cannot consume tobacco or related products. Until now the law only pursued its sale, but with the change it will be the parents or guardians who assume the sanction in case of non -compliance, a fine that reaches 100 euros.
The second, which this prohibition will be extended to electronic cigarettes, the ‘vapers’. The standard will impose the same restrictions that tobacco will have, which have also expanded in this preliminary project, to these products. Only nicotine bags will be fought from these impositions.
And this is where the new anti -tabaco law will make because they impose substantial economic sanctions on those who do not comply with the norm. The fines, as the Minister of Health has pointed out, will be up to 600,000 euros, stipulated as very serious crimes. Even so, a 12 -month transitory period is established to allow manufacturers to adapt their products to the new legal framework, as well as to allow the exhaustion of single -use ‘vapers’ stocks.
The reform of the tobacco law will fine the parents of minors who consume vape drivers or conventional tobacco with 100 euros
Vapers who are the most used by minors, for their price, their design and their ease of purchase. According to research such as study 2023, the percentage of adolescents that this type of products has ever tried is 54.6%.
To do this, the sanctioning regime will be updated to skip the regulations and the places where the consumption of these products will not be allowed. Thus, smoke would be prohibited in spaces such as sports or cultural facilities, playgrounds, transport stops, marques, platforms, commercial vehicles, educational centers and bars or enclosure terraces where public shows are carried out.
Among the measures presented, the one that has generated the most debate is the one that directly affects families. The new legal text not only maintains the prohibition of selling tobacco or electronic devices to minors, but also penalizes its consumption. Thus, if a young man under 18 is surprised to smoking or using vapers, a penalty of 100 euros will be imposed that will fall on his parents or guardians. If repeated, the fine can go from 100 to 600 euros.
As such, these fines are part of the minor sanctions, ranging from 100 to 600 euros. Here are actions such as the sale or marketing of these products to minors, but also not informing at the entry of the establishments of the smoking ban, among others.
It seeks to reduce tobacco consumption among young people so that in 2040 there is a smoke -free generation
The main intention of this law is not to sanction, but to protect childhood and adolescence against smoking. With this, it is expected to reduce consumption among young people to reach 2040 with a free tobacco generation.
All forms of advertising, promotion and sponsorship, indirect or direct, also in digital formats, of this type of cigarettes will also be prohibited. This will affect festivals and events that sold vapers, and also influencers and content creators who promote vapeo.
Health also wants to include the generic packaging, a series of standard and little striking wrappers, with the same typography, which would reduce the attractiveness of tobacco packs. Spain would add up to a measure that is already underway in more than 20 countries.